Shrubs 1-2 m tall. Branchlets subterete, distinctly lenticellate. Petiole 4-17 cm, densely brown, yellow-brown, or purplish pubescent when young, glabrescent; leaf blade ovate to broadly ovate, 8-20 5-15 cm, papery, abaxially sparsely glandular pubescent to subglabrous and with several peltate glands near base, adaxially sparsely pubescent, base cuneate, truncate, or cordate, margin serrate, apex acuminate to acute, veins 4-6 pairs. Inflorescences terminal, dense, capitate, flat-topped cymes; bracts lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 cm, deciduous; bractlets lanceolate, ca. 1.8 cm. Calyx campanulate, tube 2-6 mm, pubescent, with several peltate glands; lobes narrowly triangular to triangular, 1-10 mm. Corolla pinkish, red, or purple, tube 2-3 cm; lobes obovate, 5-8 mm. Stamens and style exserted. Drupes blue-black, subglobose, 6-12 mm in diam. Fl. and fr. May-Nov.