Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, up to 9 m tall. Bark smooth grey when young, becoming dark grey, deeply fissured, peeling in strips with age. Young branchlets velvety grey or brown. Leaves alternate, simple, elliptic to ovate, 15 – 80 × 10 – 32 mm, glossy green above, silvery hairy below, margins entire to slightly serrated. Flowers small, bright yellow, in axillary clusters, often profuse, flowering Oct – Mar. Fruits round fleshy drupes, reddish-brown/orange to black when ripe, 6 mm diameter, edible but astringent.