Shrub 1.5–3 m high, in cultivation can become a small tree to 7 m high. Branchlets with scattered to moderately dense aculei (0.75–1.5 mm long), very dense fine bristles and stellate hairs. Stipules at length caducous, linear to subulate in shape, 12–1 long, indumentum of fine bristles and glandular hairs, sometimes aculei. Mature leaves: petiole 35–130 mm long, the indumentum can be similar or dissimilar to the branchlets; lamina broadly elliptic or orbicular, shallowly lobed to deeply 3–7-lobed (the lobes longer than wide or as long as wide), 80–215 mm long, 70–190 mm wide, truncate to cordate base, crenate to serrate margin, acute or acuminate apex, discolourous, the indumentum more dense on the abaxial surface, the vein indumentum more hairy than the interveinal regions, indumentum with very dense fine bristles and glandular hairs, occasionally aculei. Distal (upper) leaves lanceolate, broadly elliptic to ovate, reduced in size, c. 70 mm long, c. 30 mm wide, base obtuse to cordate, margin serrulate, apex obtuse. Foliar nectary absent. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, pedunculate; peduncle 23–45 mm long with dense stellate hairs and aculei; pedicels 7–11 mm long with stellate hairs, aculei and fine bristles; epicalyx with stellate hairs and bristles (> 3 mm long, straw-coloured and at right angles to the epicalyx), 10–11-segmented, linear and incurved, 0.6 times the length of the calyx, 16–20 (–25) mm long; calyx 26–32 mm long in flower (to 45 mm in fruit), indumentum like the epicalyx, calyx nectary absent; petals 60 mm long, 45 mm wide (sometimes considerably larger) pink with a red petal spot, with stellate hairs on the dorsal surface; staminal column 24–25 mm long, stamens distributed along the entire length of the column; style exserted 2–4 mm beyond length of staminal column, style branches 1 mm long. Capsule 27–30 mm long, densely hairy, capsule beak 2–4 mm long. Seeds angular subreniform, 4 mm long, with striate and pectinate scales.
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A large shrub or small tree. It grows 3-6 m high and spreads 2-3 m across. The branches are at an angle but erect. They are grey and velvety. There are a few prickles. The leaves are broad and bright green. They are 7-18 cm long by 3-15 cm wide. The lower leaves often have 3-5 lobes. The leaves have teeth along the edge. The leaf stalks are 1-9 cm long. The flowers are large and pink with a dark red blotch in the centre. They are 12-15 cm across. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit is a capsule 2.5-3 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. They are oval and densely hairy. The seeds are smooth.
An attractive and widely planted garden plant. A drink made from flowers and fruits was used as a male contraceptive by indigenous Australians (Dalton 2018, and ABC interview with Aunty Fran Bodkin, 23 September 2019).
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