An elegant shrub 3 to 4 ft high, evergreen, with long, slender, usually unbranchcd stems compressed or slightly two-winged towards the top, and luxuriantly leafy (the leaf-pairs from 1⁄4 to 1 in. apart). Leaves oblong or ovate, 1 to 2 in. long, dull dark green, rounded at the apex, inodorous. Flowers small compared with the size of the plant, and wanting in beauty, often solitary at the end of the shoot, but on strong shoots produced in small terminal clusters, they are 3⁄4 or 1 in. across, with narrow, fragile petals, linear sepals, and three styles. Stamens longer than petals.
Native of north-east Turkey and south-west Georgia. In its graceful arching habit and strong vigorous growth this species is attractive, but it is one of the most disappointing in its flowers, which appear a few at a time from July to September. It has a creeping root stock, and eventually forms a large dense thicket; it is thus easily increased by division.