Shrubs to 3 m tall. Stems erect; bark reddish tan, becoming gray. Leaves simple, petiolate, exstipulate; the blades 2–9 cm long, ovate, lobed, dentate, pubescent, sparsely so above. Inflorescence a many-flowered, highly branched pyramidal panicle at branch tips. Flowers small, perfect, perigynous, 5-merous; hypanthium saucer-shaped; sepals 1.5– 2 mm long; petals white, as long as sepals; stamens 20; styles 5. Fruit a hirsute, 1-seeded achene, ca. 1.5 mm long; style ca. 1 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).