Intricately branched shrub to 4 m high, more or less glabrous; main branches rigid, lateral branches leafy, ending in a stout spine. Leaves usually clustered, mostly obovate, 10–40 mm long, 4–10 mm wide, apex obtuse or rounded, base attenuate into a short petiole, margins entire, slightly fleshy, green. Flowers usually solitary in axils; pedicels 5–16 mm long; calyx more or less tubular, 4–7 mm long, lobes triangular, 1–2 mm long; fruiting calyx often 2-lipped; corolla 10–12 mm long, pale lilac or white, often blotched lilac towards base of lobes, lobes sub-orbicular; stamens 5, exserted by 2–4 mm, anthers 1–1.5 mm long; pistil c. 10 mm long. Berry more or less globose, 5–12 mm long, orange-red; seeds 35–70, c. 2.5 mm long, dull yellow. Flowers mainly spring and summer.