The delicate shrub grows to a height of 50 cm (20 in), with a 1 m (3.3 ft) spread.[2] It is rhizomatous, with slender four-sided 40 cm (16 in) stems growing from its slender rhizomes.[2][3][5] Branches and branchlets are very slender, with small crinkled oblong to broad oval-shaped dark red opposite leaves with wavy margins that sometimes end in a distinct rounded point, are 5–9×4–9 mm (0.20–0.35×0.16–0.35 in) in size, are truncate at their base, are distant, have purplish undersides, and have slender petioles hardly 0.5 mm (1⁄50 in) in length.[2][3] Its racemes are 4–14 cm (1.6–5.5 in) long, and are found at the tip of stems, or elsewhere on main branches.[3] Its white flowers, found on slender pedicels up to 7 mm (0.28 in) in length, are distant, with broadly oval sepals about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in size (sometimes toothed), similar petals, and 5 ribbed carpels.[2][3]
Like all Coriaria species, the plant is poisonous, especially the seed inside the small black berries.[5] However, the juice of some Coriaria berries is not poisonous, and was used by Māori, who called members of the genus "tutu".[6]
