Evergreen or deciduous tree or shrub, 3-7 m high; branchlets and young leaves reddish hairy. Leaves opposite, simple, 50-100 x 25-50 mm, lanceolate to ovate, entire, glossy green above, paler below, apex and base tapering, apex long acuminate. Inflorescences shortly spicate, axillary or terminal. Flowers showy, up to 40 mm in diam.; petals crinkly, white, pinkish purple towards base. Flowering time Dec., Jan. Fruit a capsule, dark brown, dehiscent.