Branches green, brown, or reddish, distally white-tomentose, eglandular. Leaves ascending, becoming divergent; blade 4-5 mm. Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious); sepals greenish pink becoming reddish purple. Drupes pink or red, translucent, 3-5 mm diam. Seeds light brown, 1.2-1.5 mm. 2n = 26.

Flowering spring. Sand dunes, acidic coastal rock barrens, alpine heath; 0-900 m; Nfld. and Labr., N.S., P.E.I., Que.