The species is highly genetically diverse. It grows in the form of a small tree with spreading branches and reaches a height of . It is very frost resistant and can survive temperatures down to . The tree's bark is dark grey, while the bark of the branches is reddish to dark brown, sparsely hairy at first, but soon
glabrous. The reddish-brown winter buds are ovoid to conical, 2–4 mm long and the edges of the bud scales are hairy. The simple leaves have
stipules. The
petiole of the leaves is initially hairy, but soon bald, and is red with a length of 2 to 3.5 cm and few if any glands. The simple, ovate to almost circular, pointed leaf blade has a length of 5 to 10 centimeters and a width of 3 to 7 centimeters with a rounded to heart-shaped base. Leaf surfaces are initially reddish, hairy and downy, later glossy green and glabrous. The leaf edge is
serrate (not double serrate). Blossoms appear in early spring as solitary flowers. The flower stalk is about 1 to 2 mm long, and the bell-shaped
flower cup is purple outside and hairy at the base, glabrous, or slightly downy. The flowers are
hermaphrodite, with a diameter of 1.5 to 3.5 cm. The five free petals, almost circular to ovoid in shape, are white with pink veins. The many free stamens are nearly as long as the petals. The fruits, maturing in early- to mid-summer, are yellow to orange-red, but on the side facing the sun they are reddish. The dry and densely textured flesh (
mesocarp) easily separates from the stone (
endocarp) and opens along the ventral suture at full maturity. It may be only 2.5 to 3 mm thick. The compressed spherical stone inside the fruit has a smooth surface, and a diameter of 1.2 to 2.5 centimeters. The seed inside is hardly edible and somewhat bitter. ==Uses==