A deciduous shrub 6 to 12 ft high, much branched; stems grey-hairy at first, sometimes producing sucker growths. Leaves ovate, 1 to 21⁄2 in. long, often nearly as wide, the base varying from cordate to slightly tapered, mostly three-lobed and coarsely toothed, apex pointed to rounded, bright green above, paler beneath and downy on the veins; stalk 1⁄2 to 11⁄3 in. long. Flowers yellow, 1⁄8 in. wide, 1⁄3 in. long, borne on downy, unisexual racemes, arching or pendulous, the males the larger and up to 3 in. long by 1⁄2 in. wide; each raceme comes from the axil of a small, pointed bract; main and individual stalks greyish-hairy. Fruits globose, 1⁄3 in. wide, purplish black, hairy, edible. Bot. Mag., t. 9647.
Native of the forest region of Chile from 38° to 42° S., and of bordering parts of Argentina; in cultivation at Kew at the end of the last century; reintroduced by H. F. Comber in 1926 from San Martin de los Andes in Argentina. It blooms in late April and May. Except for its liability to injury by late spring frosts, it is hardy. Some of its forms are described as having green flowers. The yellow-flowered ones are quite attractive.