Shrub to 3 m or so tall. Leaves thick and leathery, ovate to oblanceolate or obovate, 3-8 cm long, 4-6 cm wide, inconspicuously toothed in the upper half, the margins bent under. Flowers white (sometimes tinged pink at first), fragrant, in clusters 7-10 cm long; spring to summer. Fruit a blue-black berry to about 1 cm wide.

f. ovata (Briot) C.K. Schneid. has broad, almost entire leaves. Syn. R. ovata Briot. R. ×delacourii André (R. indica × R. umbellata) is often grown for its dark pink scentless flowers. Raised by gardener Delacour, Villa Allerton, Cannes, France, in the late 19th century.

Japan, Korea.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Rosaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.