Multi-branched shrubs, semievergreen, 0.5–2 m tall; young branches thin and curved, scaly, hairy. Petiole 2–6 mm, pubescent; leaf blade ± leathery, elliptic or oblong, 1–5 × 1–1.5 cm; base obtuse, sometimes broadly cuneate; margin entire or denticulate; apex obtuse; abaxial surface pale green, scales dense; adaxial surface deep green, sparsely scaly. Inflorescences 4, subapical, opening before leaves, pseudoumbellate; bud scales falling off early or persistent. Pedicel 0.2–0.8 cm; calyx 5-lobed, less than 1 mm, densely scaly; corolla funnelform, pink or purplish red, 1.3–2.3 cm, outer surface often pubescent; stamens 10, shorter than corolla tube; filaments pubescent below, anthers purplish red; ovary 5-locular, densely scaly; style purplish red, longer than corolla, glabrous. Capsule cylindric, 10–15 × ca. 5 mm, apex 5-lobed. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul.

Betula or Larix forests, forest margins. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol [Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia].