An evergreen or partially evergreen shrub up to 12 ft high, of spreading habit, more in diameter than it is high; shoots glabrous. Leaves ovate to oblong, rounded or widely tapered at the base, pointed, 11⁄2 to 4 in. long, 3⁄4 to 13⁄4 in. wide, shallowly and finely toothed, glabrous on both surfaces, rather pale green; about seven veins each side the midrib; leaf-stalk 1⁄6 to 1⁄3 in. long.
The original plant of R. × hybrida was raised by L’Héritier shortly before 1778 from seed of a female plant of R. alpina and was described by him in 1788. The pollen-parent, according to him, was certainly R. alaternus.
cv. ‘Billardii’. – This form, with small, narrow, more lanceolate leaves, is considered to be a form of R. × hybrida, but is very dissimilar, especially in the conspicuous jagged toothing. Its form of leaf suggests that it might have originated from R. alaternus var. angustifolia.