Shrub or small tree 2–4(–7) m high, evergreen to semi-deciduous; stems villous, pubescent, pilose, puberulent to glabrescent yellowish lenticels. Leaves ovate, oblong, elliptic to lanceolate, or suborbicular, 2–7(–13) cm long, 1–3(–5.5) cm wide, acute to acuminate, c. concolourous, densely villous to sparsely pubescent or glabrous except for midrib below; petiole 2–8 mm long. Panicles terminal or axillary, 4–11 cm long, oblong; pedicels 1–5 mm long. Calyx 1–1.5 mm long, with obscure triangular teeth. Corolla 3.5–5.5 mm long, white; corolla-tube slightly shorter than lobes, spreading at anthesis; stamens 2.5–4 mm long, anthers exserted or level with corolla-lobes. Berry subglobose, 5–8 mm diam., fleshy, black; seeds 1–2. Flowers mainly late winter–spring.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, CVU, EGL, HNF. Also naturalised in Qld, NSW, ACT. Native to China. Naturalised in Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodland along the Ovens River at Wangaratta and in dry sclerophyll forest near Whitfield.
