They have a four-lobed pink or light purple (rarely white) perianth 10–15 mm diameter, and are strongly scented.

The fruit is a bright red berry 7–12 mm diameter; it is very poisonous for humans, though fruit-eating birds like thrushes are immune and eat them, dispersing the seeds in their droppings.

[5] Ingestion of plant parts leads within a few hours to severe irritation and a burning sensation in the mouth, with swelling of the lips and face, increased salivation, hoarseness and difficulty in swallowing.

Children (who may be poisoned by the attractive red fruits) often show additional narcotic symptoms with muscular twitching.

Work by Frohne and Pfänder has determined that it is the chewed seed, not the fruit pulp, that is responsible for the severe symptoms in poisoning by the berries.