Densely hairy or tomentose, evergreen shrub to 3 m high, with long thin stems bearing lvs towards apex; shoots green. Lvs opposite; petiole to 8 cm long, reddish pink, rather stout. Lamina to c. 20-(25) × 9-(10) cm, often smaller below infl., elliptic, with appressed hairs, remotely denticulate with teeth hidden amongst marginal hairs; base cuneate to rounded; apex acute or short-acuminate. Infl. terminal, pendulous, corymbose, becoming racemose at fruiting. Fls subtended by leafy bracts, these smaller towards the apex. Pedicels 5-20 mm long, slender. Floral tube 5-6 cm long, gradually widening upwards, pink or crimson, hairy inside and outside. Sepals 1.5-2.2 cm × c. 4 mm, lanceolate, pink or crimson, acuminate, reflexing at anthesis, with scattered hairs outside. Petals 1.2-1.5 cm long, elliptic-oblong, crimson, imbricate. Stamens c. 10 mm long, subequal, crimson. Style 1-1.5 cm long, exserted part glabrous, otherwise densely hairy; stigma 4-lobed. Fr. c. 2 cm long, oblong, shining black, puberulent.