Evergreen shrub up to 2-(5) m high when mature; stems very dense, spreading and spiny, often spine-tipped; very young stems greyish tomentose; older stems brown and shiny. Lf petiole 3-5 mm long, channelled above, with scattered hairs; blade narrowly oblong-obovate or narrowly oblong-elliptic, (10)-20-50-(60) × 5-12-(20) mm, usually apiculate at apex, sometimes obtuse, cuneate at base, dark green, glabrous, and ± glossy on upper surface, paler and glabrous or with scattered hairs below, serrulate along whole margin. Fls in corymbs mostly 20-40 mm across; pedicels 6-15 mm long, red, shiny, and glabrate. Sepals broad-triangular, 0.6-1.4 mm long, glabrous and shining, with a mucronulate tip. Petals broadly obovate-elliptic or suborbicular, 2.4-4 mm long, rounded, creamy white. Stamens < petals. Fr. ± depressed globose, 3-6-(7) mm wide across the top, orange-red or red, glossy.