A very fine species found in forests and rock crevices in E. Afghanistan, N. India, Kashmir, Nepal, W. Pakistan, Tajikistan and Xizang (or the Tibet Autonomous Region) at 300-4500m. The leaves are generally obovate and glabrous with a variably serrated but rigidly ciliate margin. Smooth, leathery foliage is dark green, occasionally turning purple-red in winter. In spring, loose clusters of pendant, pink-red flowers open atop short, green-pink branching stems.

The species, and its white flowering cultivar B. stracheyi Alba Group, are available for sale from specialist nurseries in the UK. Wild collections can also be found in the living collections of botanic gardens, such as RBGE, CUBG and Kew. An aberrant form is said to grow in the Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan area at the western edge of the distribution range of the genus.