An ornamental shrub, with the habit of an Azalea, 3–5 feet high, branching from the base; branches strict rigid, glabrescent; branchlets supra-axillary, hoary, erect-patent, tips shortly tomentose. Leaves 1–3 by 2/3–1 3/4 in., elliptical or obovate, subcoriaceous, rather crass, obtuse retuse or with a short obtuse point, somewhat wedge-shaped at the base, above minutely scabrid hairs; veins closely reticulate; below ashy or pale tawny densely tomentose with simple and stellate hairs, nerves many reticulate, margins flat or nearly so; petioles 1/6– 1/4 in.; stipules about 1/4 in. long, subulate from a broad connate base. Flowers in axillary somewhat whorled fascicles, chiefly below the leaves, appearing before the full development of the leaves, drooping; peduncles pedicels and calyx shortly tomentose. Calyx-lobes broadly ovate, subacute or obtuse, 1/5 in. long. Corolla 1 in. long, densely tomentose, rather rigid, bright brick-red; lobes 1/4 in. long, ovate-subulate. Berry about 1/2 in. diameter.