A herbaceous perennial plant growing to 80 cm tall. The leaves are green to greyish green, slender, up to 8 cm long. The flowers are sweetly scented, 3–5 cm diameter, with five frilly-fringed petals, pink to lavender with a greenish base; they are produced in branched clusters at the top of the stems from early to late summer.

Abortifacient, contraceptive, diuretic, emmenagogue, ophthalmic, tonic and vulnerary (plant); astringent, diuretic, haemostatic, resolvent and vulnerary (flowers).

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The whole plant is a bitter tonic herb that stimulates the digestive and urinary system, and also the bowels. It also lowers blood pressure, reduces fevers, controls bacterial infections and promotes hair growth. The plant is taken internally in the treatment of acute urinary tract infections (especially cystitis), urinary stones, constipation and failure to menstruate. Externally, it is applied to skin inflammations and swellings. The leaves are used in the treatment of haemorrhoids, lumbricoid worms, venereal sores etc. The decoction of dried aerial part is used for treating gonorrhea, amenorrhoea and dribbling urination with scanty, dark urine and burning pain.

Contraindicated for use during pregnancy.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 258, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.