Shrubs deciduous, 2–3 m tall, much branched. Branchlets grayish brown or grayish black when old, terete, initially yellowish strigose, gradually glabrescent. Petiole 3–6 mm, pilose; stipules lanceolate, 2–4 mm, membranous, puberulous; leaf blade ovate or elliptic-ovate, 1–2 cm × 7–12 mm, lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs, somewhat raised abaxially and slightly impressed adaxially, abaxially pilose, adaxially shiny, yellowish pilose, glabrous when old, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex acute, rarely obtuse. Inflorescences usually 1-flowered; bracts lanceolate, somewhat longer than pedicels. Flower subsessile, to 1 cm in diam. Hypanthium red, campanulate, abaxially glabrous. Sepals triangular, 1.5–2.5 × 2–3 mm, apex acute or obtuse. Petals erect or spreading, red, broadly obovate, 4–5 mm and ca. as broad, glabrous, base shortly broadly clawed, apex obtuse. Stamens 10, somewhat shorter than petals. Ovary yellow pubescent apically; styles 2, free, not exceeding stamens. Fruit red, subglobose, pyrenes 2. Fl. Jun–Jul.

Brach (2010): This appears to be the same as Cotoneaster acuminatus Lindley.

Slopes, gullies, thickets, rocks, forests; 3200--4100 m. SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Nepal].