Shrub or small tree 3, rarely up to 7 m high, often growing in a bushy manner. The branches are short, forming a rounded crown; branches are red-brown or purple. Young shoots are densely pubescent, up to white-tomentose, later glabrous. The spines are few, about 1 cm long.
The leaves are ovate or triangular-ovate, with an acute apex and a broadly wedge-shaped base, 5-11-lobed, with larger lower lobes separated by rather deep notches, unevenly toothed, 5-9 cm long, 4-7 cm wide, hairy above, densely white pubescent below. Petiole 1-3 cm. Stipules large, sickle-shaped, comb-toothed.
The inflorescences are erect, dense, multi-flowered, with hairy pubescent axes and pedicels. Flowers are 1.2-1.5 cm in diameter, with white petals that turn pink when flowering.
The fruits are spherical, about 10 mm in diameter, black, shiny, juicy.
An ornamental plant, quite widely known in culture. It grows along forest edges, in bush thickets and in river floodplains.
Prefers moist, relatively rich and well-drained soil, but tolerates poor soil.