Flowering spikes 1–2(2.5) cm in diameter, hemispheric, elongating and ± cylindrical in fruit; lower bracts 5–8(10) × 3–5(6) mm, ovate or lanceolate to elliptic, acute to acuminate-cuspidate at apex, flat on the margins, appressed pubescent on both surfaces; upper bracts successively smaller and ± lanceolate, acuminate-cuspidate at apex; spike-axes 1–3.3(5) cm long and slender in fruit with closely-spaced scars.
Peduncles 1 per leaf axil, slender, ascending, hispid-pubescent with bristles usually spreading, (4)6–12.5(14.5) cm long at anthesis, usually 1.5–2.5 times longer than the subtending leaf, rarely shorter than the leaf, increasing to 14.5 cm long in fruit.
Branches usually simple with internodes 3–10 cm long; hispid with long white ± patent tubercle-based hairs, or ± weakly strigose with ± short tubercle-based hairs usually curving or ± appressed antrorse, usually with sessile glands intermixed.
Corolla pinkish-mauve to purplish, greatly exceeding the bracts especially in the upper flowers; tube 5–7.5(8) mm long, ± ventricose; lower lip 4–5.5(6) mm broad.
Calyx c. 1.5 mm long, cylindric, truncate, thinly membranous and appressed puberulous.
Shrub up to 2.5 m tall, or bushy subshrub to 1.5 m.
Drupes 2–3 mm long, bright purple.