Spiny deciduous shrubs to c. 2 m high; branches purplish-brown or blackish-brown, smooth. Leaves ovate to elliptic, rarely narrowly elliptic, 3–9 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide, base cuneate to broadly cuneate, apex acute or obtuse, margins serrate, glabrous above, more or less glabrous below except for scattered hairs on veins; petiole c. 10 mm long; stipules usually reniform or suborbiculate, 5–10 mm long. Flowers in clusters of 3–5, appearing before or with the leaves, 30–50 mm diam.; sepals suborbicular, 3–4 mm long, outer surface pubescent; styles 5, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Pome fragrant, globose or ovoid, 4–6 cm diam. Flowers late winter–spring.
VVP, HSF. Also naturalused SA. Native of China.
Known in Victoria from a small population of apparently planted individuals that are persisting in a reserve near Ballarat
