Shrubs deciduous, 1–2 m tall. Branchlets dark brown, initially densely greenish gray appressed tomentose, glabrescent, subglabrous when old. Petiole 2–4 mm, tomentose; leaf blade bright green adaxially, elliptic or ovate-orbicular, (0.8–) 1–2.5(–2.7) × (0.4–)0.7–2 cm, abaxially greenish gray tomentose, adaxially sparsely appressed pubescent or glabrous, base broadly cuneate to rounded, apex usually obtuse, rarely ± acute, sometimes emarginate, often mucronate. Fascicles or racemes ca. 1/2 as long as leaves, on very short lateral branchlets in leaf axils, 2–4-flowered; rachis 2–4 mm, tomentose. Pedicel 2–5 mm, tomentose. Flowers 7–8 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially sparsely appressed pubescent or subglabrous. Sepals broadly ovate, margin purple and tomentose-ciliate, apex obtuse or ± acute. Petals erect or somewhat divaricate, pink, base floccose. Stamens 20. Styles 2(or 3), free. Fruit red, subglobose to ellipsoid, 5–8 mm in diam., pyrenes often 2(or 3). Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 68.

Mountain regions. Nei Mongol, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan].