Tree or shrub 5 m or more; upright, quadrangular branches. Single, opposite, pubescent, ovate or elliptic leaves, 6 to 20 cm long, entire margin. Terminal pyramidal panicles, 10 to 40 cm long; numerous blue or purple flowers, 10 to 12 cm long. Blue or black drupe, spherical, 3 to 6 mm in diameter.

Herb of up to 4 m in height. Stem tightly covered by the base of the leaves, which are arranged in a spiral, leaving a scar on the stem when they die. Narrow elliptic leaves, 10 to 25 cm long and 2.5 to 6 cm wide, hairless to sparsely hirsute on the beam, glabrous to densely pubescent on the underside. Globose to ovoid inflorescence, 3 to 8 cm long and 3 to 4 cm wide, petals from yellow to glabrous red. Fruit, subglobose capsule of up to 15 mm in diameter.