Compact, evergreen and bushy shrub, with strictly ovate or oblong leaves, dark green in colour and up to 10cm long. Produces small flat white flowers, 6mm wide, in 10cm flat terminal cymes, followed by ovoid, dark blue-black fruits. The genus includes over 150 species of shrubs, sometimes trees, evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous, originating mainly in the northern temperate regions, but also widespread in south-eastern Asia and South America. They are grown for their foliage, flowers and decorative fruit. Compact, evergreen, bushy shrub, with narrowly ovate to oblong, dark green leaves, up to 10cm long. For a long period in late winter and spring it produces small flat, white flowers, 6mm wide, gathered in flat terminal cymes, up to 10cm wide; they are followed by ovoid, dark blue-black fruits, 6mm long. The genus includes 150 or more species of shrubs, sometimes trees, evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous, native to woodlands mainly in northern temperate regions, but extending to southeast Asia and South America. They are grown for their foliage, flowers and fruits.