Spreading, unarmed shrub or small tree to 10 m tall and with trunk to 15 cm diam., with all parts stellate-tomentose, the hairs ± sessile to long-stalked. lvs on vegetative and most flowering shoots with prominent stipule-like auricles 5-25 mm long at base; petioles to 6 cm long on flowering shoots, longer on strong vegetative shoots. Lamina 10-25-(40) × 3.5-10-(20) cm, ovate to elliptic, entire, light to dark green on upper surface, white to yellowish green on lower surface; base cuneate; apex usually acuminate but blunt at tip. Panicles dense, many-flowered, corymbose, terminal at first; rachis to 18 cm long, stout; pedicels ± erect at fruiting. Calyx c. 5 mm long, not accrescent; lobes ± elliptic. Corolla 1.5-2 cm diam., usually mauve to purple, occasionally white; lobes ovate or triangular-ovate, stellate-tomentose outside. Anthers 2-3 mm long. Berry c. 1 cm diam., globose, dull yellow; stone cells 0. Seeds 1-2 mm long, oblong-obovoid to suborbicular.