Trees to 15 m tall. Branchlets purplish brown, terete, densely puberulous when young, glabrescent; buds reddish brown, ovoid, glabrous or scales slightly puberulous at margin. Stipules caducous, linear-lanceolate, 5–7 mm, herbaceous or membranous, adaxially sparsely puberulous, margin sparsely glandular denticulate, apex acuminate; petiole 3–4 cm, sparsely puberulous; leaf blade ovate, elliptic, or obovate, 5–8 × 3–4 cm, abaxially puberulous or subglabrous along midvein and lateral veins, base cuneate or subrounded, margin serrulate, apex acute or acuminate. Corymb sessile, at ends of branchlets, umbel-like, 6–8 cm in diam., 3–6-flowered; bracts caducous, linear-lanceolate, small, membranous, margin entire or glandular denticulate, apex acuminate. Pedicel 3–5 cm, sparsely puberulous. Flowers 3–3.5 cm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially pubescent. Sepals lanceolate, 5–7 mm, slightly longer than hypanthium, adaxially tomentose, margin entire, apex acuminate. Petals white, narrowly obovate, 1.5–2 cm, base shortly clawed, apex rounded. Stamens 30, unequal, ca. 1/2 as long as petals or longer. Ovary 4-or 5-loculed, with 2 ovules per locule; styles 4(or 5), slightly longer than stamens, tomentose basally. Pome red, ellipsoid or obovoid, 0.8–1.2 cm in diam. ; fruiting pedicel 3–5 cm, slightly puberulous; sepals caducous; with a small scar at apex. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Aug–Sep. 2n = 34*.
Mixed forests on slopes, mountain summits and valleys; at elevations from 100-2,100 metres in northern China. Found as individuals or in small groups in river valleys, in flood-plain coniferous broadleaved forests, and on stony mountainsides.
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.