Much-branched shrub to c. 4 m high. Lvs shortly petiolate; lamina 8-15 × 1-2.5 cm on flowering shoots, to c. 25 × 4 cm on vegetative suckering shoots, narrow-elliptic or linear-elliptic, coriaceous, puberulent beneath, especially in stomatal pits; lateral veins numerous, parallel and conspicuous below. Infl. puberulent, peduncles and pedicels reddish. Calyx 5-8 mm long, densely puberulent, reddish purple; lobes acuminate. Corolla 3.5-5 cm long, pink or rose, shining red in bud; tube ampliate; lobes 2.5-3 cm long, obovate, slightly asymmetric; corona deeply laciniate. Fls sometimes semi-double; single fls with densely pilose stamen awns c. 1 cm long. Frs uncommon, to c. 18 cm long.