[3][5] It includes 14 species[6] of small trees, shrubs and subshrubs, with a widespread but disjunct distribution across warm temperate regions of the world, occurring as far apart as the Mediterranean region, southern and eastern Asia, New Zealand (where some are alpine species), the Pacific Ocean islands, and Central and South America.

[4][7][8] The leaves are opposite or in whorls, simple, 2–9 cm long, without stipules.

The fruit is a small and shiny black (occasionally yellow or red) berry-like swollen corolla, highly poisonous in several species, though those of C. terminalis are edible.

The South American species C. ruscifolia is an evergreen climber known as deu or huique, and is used in southern Chile to make rat poison.

Coriaria comprises the following species:[9][10] The following hybrids have been described:[9][10] Coriariaceae fossils as pollen and seeds, are known from the Miocene of Europe.