Bristletips is a shrub to 2 m tall, with spreading, drooping branches. Leaves are elliptic acute, with 5-7 prominent parallel veins and numerous fine cross veins. Leaves have rusty star-shaped hairs beneath. Flowers are to 2 cm long, occuring in long pendulous pyramidal clusters, with sepals petals and flower-stalk, all pinkish-purple. Elliptic petals fall soon. Stamens are 8 in number, with 4 longer with curved filaments and purple anthers, and 4 shorter with yellow anthers. It is found in the Himalayas from Nepal through Bhutan, northeastern India, and Burma to southwestern China.