Hermaphrodite shrubs or subshrubs. Leaves opposite, usually decussate, sometimes subdistichous on prostrate or trailing steins, petiolate, crenate to serrate, glabrous or with eglandular or minute glandular hairs on midrib. Inflorescence terminal, racemose compound; flowers opening in acropetal sequence. Bracts opposite, decussate, or alternate above, with transverse wrinkle at base. Flowers protogynous. Calyx lobes imbricate, 4-5, the anterior pair sometimes united, the posterior lobe shorter or absent. Corolla tube cylindric to funnelform, veins to lobes branching near base of tube. Corolla lobes 4. Stamens 2; filaments erect, inserted in basal half of corolla tube; anthers apiculate, yellow or cream. Nectarial disk ciliate or glandular-ciliate, rarely glabrous. Ovary truncate or emarginate. Locules 2; placenta hemispherical with ovules scattered on surface; ovules hemitropous; stigma capitate or 2-4-lobed, often protruding from bud. Capsule turgid to broadly angustiseptate, thickwalled, dehiscing septicidally to base and loculicidally to varying depth. Seeds few, (1—)3—6 per locule, fusiform to irregular, compressed, smooth, or rugulose on back, winged at ends or at proximal end and narrowly around edges.

Suffrutices, Parahebe primo adspectu similes, a Parahebe, Chionohebe, Derwentia, et Hebe inflorescentiis terminalibus, floribus proterogynis, staminibus erectis, antheris luteolis, ovulis hemitropis, seminibus fusiformibus vel irregularibus, alatis different.