Glabrous, small or medium-sized, evergreen tree to c. 10 m high (taller in cultivation), sometimes a dense shrub. Shoots glabrous. Petioles mostly 1-2 cm long). Lamina 5-13 × 3-6 cm, ovate to elliptic-ovate, glossy above; base broad-cuneate to rounded; apex usually abruptly short-acuminate, sometimes acute. Panicles up to 25 × 20 cm, dense, broadly pyramidal; branches angular; pedicels very short. Bracts oblong or oblong-lanceolate; bracteoles much smaller, caducous. Fls fragrant. Calyx 1-2 mm long; lobes indistinct. Corolla white; tube c. 1.5 mm long; lobes 2-2.5 mm long, oblong-elliptic, reflexed, with ± involute margins, acute. Stamens c. 4 mm long, exserted; anthers yellow. Style included. Fr. to 6 × 5 mm, ellipsoid-oblong, bluish or purplish black, ± pruinose. Seed c. 5 mm long, ± broadly ellipsoid, ribbed on back.