Widespreading open tree to c. 10 m (sometimes taller in cultivation). Trunk with somewhat smooth greyish bark. Shoots dark red at first, glabrous. Petioles 5-18 cm long, red or orange-red, usually with 2 cupular, sessile glands near apex and 1-3 sessile glands towards base. Lamina 10-24 × 7-16 cm, glaucous below, glabrous except for tufts of hairs near base of 5 main veins, remotely serrate; base usually cordate, sometimes rounded; apex acuminate. Infl. yellowish tomentulose; fls appearing after lvs. Sepals of ? fls 8-10 mm long, of ? fls 5-7 mm long, ± elliptic, yellow-tomentulose on both sides. Stamens = sepals; filaments densely covered in white hairs in lower 1/2. Ovary glabrous; styles 2-3 mm long, widely divergent. Berries 7-10 mm diam., globose, orange-red or scarlet, long-persistent and eventually turning black. Seed 1.7-2 mm long, ellipsoid to obovoid; testa finely granular.