diff --git a/src/main/resources/hbase-default.xml b/src/main/resources/hbase-default.xml
index 807efc7e6dd..ffe8c91a4d1 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/hbase-default.xml
+++ b/src/main/resources/hbase-default.xml
@@ -305,14 +305,16 @@
     <name>hbase.regionserver.global.memstore.upperLimit</name>
     <value>0.4</value>
     <description>Maximum size of all memstores in a region server before new
-      updates are blocked and flushes are forced. Defaults to 40% of heap
+      updates are blocked and flushes are forced. Defaults to 40% of heap.
+      Updates are blocked and flushes are forced until size of all memstores
+      in a region server hits hbase.regionserver.global.memstore.lowerLimit.
     </description>
   </property>
   <property>
     <name>hbase.regionserver.global.memstore.lowerLimit</name>
     <value>0.35</value>
-    <description>When memstores are being forced to flush to make room in
-      memory, keep flushing until we hit this mark. Defaults to 35% of heap.
+    <description>Maximum size of all memstores in a region server before
+      flushes are forced. Defaults to 35% of heap.
       This value equal to hbase.regionserver.global.memstore.upperLimit causes
       the minimum possible flushing to occur when updates are blocked due to
       memstore limiting.