diff --git a/docs/guides/formly.md b/docs/guides/formly.md
index 0f5743446c..4d443d1d5a 100644
--- a/docs/guides/formly.md
+++ b/docs/guides/formly.md
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ You can find a simple example of a custom type test in [text-input.field.compone
 
 To test custom wrappers, create a `FormlyTestingContainerComponent` component, configure the `FormlyModule` with an example type (for example `FormlyTestingExampleComponent`) and the wrapper and set an appropriate testing configuration.
 
-You can find a simple example of a wrapper test in [textarea-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts](../../src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts).
+You can find a simple example of a wrapper test in [maxlength-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts](../../src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts).
 
 ## How to Configure Formly
 
@@ -273,15 +273,15 @@ Refer to the tables below for an overview of these parts.
 
 ### Wrappers
 
-| Name                           | Functionality                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Relevant props                                                                                                                                                               |
-| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| form-field-horizontal          | Adds a label next to the field and adds red styling for invalid fields.                                                                                                                                                                                                    | `labelClass`& `fieldClass`: Classes that will be added to the label or field `<div>`                                                                                         |
-| form-field-checkbox-horizontal | Adds a label for a checkbox or radio field, adds red styling and error messages for invalid fields. Adds a title for a checkbox, if provided. Uses `validators.validation` and `validation.messages` properties. Adds a tooltip behind the label, see also tooltip-wrapper | `labelClass`, `titleClass`& `fieldClass`: Classes that will be added to the label, title or the outer field `<div>`                                                          |
-| validation                     | Adds validation icons and error messages to the field. Uses `validators.validation` and `validation.messages` properties.                                                                                                                                                  | `showValidation`: `(field: FormlyFieldConfig) => boolean`: optional, used to determine whether to show validation check marks                                                |
-| textarea-description           | Adds a description to textarea fields, including the amount of remaining characters.                                                                                                                                                                                       | `maxLength`: Specifies the maximum length to be displayed in the message. `customDescription`: translation key for the textarea description (default: 'textarea.max_limit' ) |
-| description                    | Adds a custom description to any field                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | `customDescription`: `string` or `{key: string; args: any}` that will be translated                                                                                          |
-| tooltip                        | Adds a tooltip to a field. Includes `<ish-field-tooltip>` component.                                                                                                                                                                                                       | `tooltip`: `{ title?: string; text: string; link: string }` that defines the different tooltip texts.                                                                        |
-| input-addon                    | Adds a prepended or appended text to a field, e.g. a currency or unit.                                                                                                                                                                                                     | `addonLeft?`: `{ text: string \| Observable<string>; }, addonRight?: {text: string \| Observable<string>}` that defines the addon texts.                                     |
+| Name                           | Functionality                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | Relevant props                                                                                                                                                                              |
+| ------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| form-field-horizontal          | Adds a label next to the field and adds red styling for invalid fields.                                                                                                                                                                                                    | `labelClass`& `fieldClass`: Classes that will be added to the label or field `<div>`                                                                                                        |
+| form-field-checkbox-horizontal | Adds a label for a checkbox or radio field, adds red styling and error messages for invalid fields. Adds a title for a checkbox, if provided. Uses `validators.validation` and `validation.messages` properties. Adds a tooltip behind the label, see also tooltip-wrapper | `labelClass`, `titleClass`& `fieldClass`: Classes that will be added to the label, title or the outer field `<div>`                                                                         |
+| validation                     | Adds validation icons and error messages to the field. Uses `validators.validation` and `validation.messages` properties.                                                                                                                                                  | `showValidation`: `(field: FormlyFieldConfig) => boolean`: optional, used to determine whether to show validation check marks                                                               |
+| maxlength-description          | Adds a description to textarea fields, including the amount of remaining characters (added to textarea by default, can be used for other fields as well).                                                                                                                  | `maxLength`: Specifies the maximum length to be displayed in the message (required). `maxLengthDescription`: translation key for the maxlength description (default: 'textarea.max_limit' ) |
+| description                    | Adds a custom description to any field                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | `customDescription`: `string` or `{key: string; args: any}` that will be translated                                                                                                         |
+| tooltip                        | Adds a tooltip to a field. Includes `<ish-field-tooltip>` component.                                                                                                                                                                                                       | `tooltip`: `{ title?: string; text: string; link: string }` that defines the different tooltip texts.                                                                                       |
+| input-addon                    | Adds a prepended or appended text to a field, e.g. a currency or unit.                                                                                                                                                                                                     | `addonLeft?`: `{ text: string \| Observable<string>; }, addonRight?: {text: string \| Observable<string>}` that defines the addon texts.                                                    |
 
 ### Extensions
 
diff --git a/docs/guides/migrations.md b/docs/guides/migrations.md
index ec9017f0aa..336e64a183 100644
--- a/docs/guides/migrations.md
+++ b/docs/guides/migrations.md
@@ -47,6 +47,16 @@ For that reason product variations are now loaded lazily through the following c
 - The `productMaster` property on the product view model has been removed. The master product should be individually retrieved.
 - The `ish-product-item-variations` component has been refactored.
 
+The Formly wrapper `textarea-description` was renamed to the better suited name `maxlength-description` and the rendering logic and compatibility to the general `description` wrapper was improved.
+The renaming should better convey the fact that this wrapper can be used not only for `ish-textarea-field` (where it is configured by default) but with other input field types as well.
+Besides this the main difference to the general `description` wrapper is its remaining `maxlength` calculation.
+Together with the renaming the implementation was changed so that the description will only be rendered if the according field has a `props.maxLength` value configured.
+And the `props` key to provide an alternative translation key was changed from `customDescription` to `maxLengthDescription`.
+This change provides the possibility to use the `description` wrapper with its `customDescription` together with the `maxlength-description` wrapper with a customized `maxLengthDescription`.
+For the migration of customer projects it needs to be checked whether a `customDescription` is configured for a `ish-textarea-field` and if so it needs to be replaced with `maxLengthDescription`.
+Additionally it needs to be checked if the `textarea-description` wrapper is configured anywhere else then the default assignment to the `ish-textarea-field`.
+If so these wrapper configurations need to be replaced with `maxlength-description`.
+
 ## From 5.0 to 5.1
 
 The OrderListComponent is strictly presentational, components using it have to supply the data.
diff --git a/src/app/extensions/rating/shared/product-review-create-dialog/product-review-create-dialog.component.ts b/src/app/extensions/rating/shared/product-review-create-dialog/product-review-create-dialog.component.ts
index 2c9585e869..e2c325984e 100644
--- a/src/app/extensions/rating/shared/product-review-create-dialog/product-review-create-dialog.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/extensions/rating/shared/product-review-create-dialog/product-review-create-dialog.component.ts
@@ -92,10 +92,10 @@ export class ProductReviewCreateDialogComponent implements OnInit {
           labelClass: 'col-md-3',
           fieldClass: 'col-md-9',
           required: true,
-          maxLength: 4000,
           rows: 5,
           placeholder: 'product.review.content.placeholder',
-          customDescription: 'product.review.content.max_limit',
+          maxLength: 4000,
+          maxLengthDescription: 'product.review.content.max_limit',
         },
         validation: {
           messages: {
diff --git a/src/app/shared/components/basket/basket-merchant-message/basket-merchant-message.component.ts b/src/app/shared/components/basket/basket-merchant-message/basket-merchant-message.component.ts
index 4b46a87962..d1f9f0a49f 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/components/basket/basket-merchant-message/basket-merchant-message.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/components/basket/basket-merchant-message/basket-merchant-message.component.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ export class BasketMerchantMessageComponent implements OnInit, OnChanges {
         key: 'messageToMerchant',
         type: 'ish-textarea-field',
         props: {
-          postWrappers: [{ wrapper: 'description', index: -1 }],
           label: 'checkout.basket_merchant_message.label',
           maxLength: 1000,
           rows: 2,
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/dev/testing/formly-testing.module.ts b/src/app/shared/formly/dev/testing/formly-testing.module.ts
index 54f139ca17..0a26c983cb 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/dev/testing/formly-testing.module.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/dev/testing/formly-testing.module.ts
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ class RepeatFieldComponent extends FieldArrayType {}
       wrappers: [
         { name: 'form-field-horizontal', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'form-field-checkbox-horizontal', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
-        { name: 'textarea-description', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
+        { name: 'maxlength-description', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'tooltip', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'validation', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'description', component: DummyWrapperComponent },
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/types/textarea-field/textarea-field.component.ts b/src/app/shared/formly/types/textarea-field/textarea-field.component.ts
index 71d5e14ba3..90ef1e13d7 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/types/textarea-field/textarea-field.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/types/textarea-field/textarea-field.component.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ import { FieldType, FieldTypeConfig } from '@ngx-formly/core';
  * @props **cols** - the amount of columns the textarea should have
  * @props **rows** - the amount of rows the textarea should have
  *
- * @defaultWrappers form-field-horizontal & textarea-description & validation
+ * @defaultWrappers form-field-horizontal & maxlength-description & validation
  *
  * @usageNotes
- * See the textarea-description wrapper for more info on the relevant props.
+ * See the maxlength-description wrapper for more info on the relevant props.
  */
 @Component({
   selector: 'ish-textarea-field',
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/types/types.module.ts b/src/app/shared/formly/types/types.module.ts
index 14f9220773..6d38fbea0a 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/types/types.module.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/types/types.module.ts
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ const fieldComponents = [
         {
           name: 'ish-textarea-field',
           component: TextareaFieldComponent,
-          wrappers: ['form-field-horizontal', 'textarea-description', 'validation'],
+          wrappers: ['form-field-horizontal', 'maxlength-description', 'validation'],
         },
         {
           name: 'ish-checkbox-field',
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.html b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1482c09ea6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.html
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<ng-template #fieldComponent></ng-template>
+<small *ngIf="description$ | async as desc" class="form-text" data-testing-id="maxlength-description">
+  {{ desc }}
+</small>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts
similarity index 77%
rename from src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts
rename to src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts
index 064eec86f0..ceb534b4fc 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.spec.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import { FormlyTestingComponentsModule } from 'ish-shared/formly/dev/testing/for
 import { FormlyTestingContainerComponent } from 'ish-shared/formly/dev/testing/formly-testing-container/formly-testing-container.component';
 import { FormlyTestingExampleComponent } from 'ish-shared/formly/dev/testing/formly-testing-example/formly-testing-example.component';
 
-import { TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent } from './textarea-description-wrapper.component';
+import { MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent } from './maxlength-description-wrapper.component';
 
-describe('Textarea Description Wrapper Component', () => {
+describe('Maxlength Description Wrapper Component', () => {
   let component: FormlyTestingContainerComponent;
   let fixture: ComponentFixture<FormlyTestingContainerComponent>;
   let element: HTMLElement;
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ describe('Textarea Description Wrapper Component', () => {
       imports: [
         FormlyModule.forRoot({
           types: [{ name: 'textarea', component: FormlyTestingExampleComponent }],
-          wrappers: [{ name: 'textarea-description-wrapper', component: TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent }],
+          wrappers: [{ name: 'maxlength-description-wrapper', component: MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent }],
         }),
         FormlyTestingComponentsModule,
         TranslateModule.forRoot(),
       ],
-      declarations: [TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent],
+      declarations: [MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent],
     }).compileComponents();
   });
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe('Textarea Description Wrapper Component', () => {
         {
           key: 'textarea',
           type: 'textarea',
-          wrappers: ['textarea-description-wrapper'],
+          wrappers: ['maxlength-description-wrapper'],
           props: {
             maxLength: 1000,
           },
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ describe('Textarea Description Wrapper Component', () => {
 
   it('should be rendered after creation', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges();
-    expect(element.querySelector('ish-textarea-description-wrapper')).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(element.querySelector('ish-maxlength-description-wrapper')).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
   it('should display maxLength on empty field', () => {
     component.form.get('textarea')?.setValue('');
     fixture.detectChanges();
-    expect(element.querySelector('[data-testing-id="textarea-description"]')?.textContent.trim()).toEqual('1000');
+    expect(element.querySelector('[data-testing-id="maxlength-description"]')?.textContent.trim()).toEqual('1000');
   });
 
   it('should display correct remaining length if field is not empty', fakeAsync(() => {
@@ -79,6 +79,6 @@ describe('Textarea Description Wrapper Component', () => {
     component.form.get('textarea')?.setValue('0123456789');
     tick(1000);
     fixture.detectChanges();
-    expect(element.querySelector('[data-testing-id="textarea-description"]')?.textContent.trim()).toEqual('990');
+    expect(element.querySelector('[data-testing-id="maxlength-description"]')?.textContent.trim()).toEqual('990');
   }));
 });
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.ts b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.ts
similarity index 53%
rename from src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.ts
rename to src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.ts
index 628dc30623..a5043e1336 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component.ts
@@ -1,23 +1,24 @@
 import { ChangeDetectionStrategy, Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
 import { FieldWrapper } from '@ngx-formly/core';
 import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
+import { Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
 import { startWith, switchMap, throttleTime } from 'rxjs/operators';
 
 /**
  * Wrapper to display a description that counts the remaining characters in a field.
  *
- * @props **maxLength** - will be used to determine the remaining available characters.
+ * @props **maxLength** - will be used to determine the remaining available characters (required, otherwise the counter description will not be rendered).
+ * @props **maxLengthDescription** - an alternative translation key that can be used to customize the counter description (default: 'textarea.max_limit').
  *
  * @usageNotes
- * This wrapper is made for the textarea type but could be used for different field types as well.
+ * This wrapper is made for the textarea type (and assigned to 'ish-textarea-field' by default) but could be used for different field types as well.
  */
 @Component({
-  selector: 'ish-textarea-description-wrapper',
-  templateUrl: './textarea-description-wrapper.component.html',
+  selector: 'ish-maxlength-description-wrapper',
+  templateUrl: './maxlength-description-wrapper.component.html',
   changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.Default,
 })
-export class TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent extends FieldWrapper implements OnInit {
+export class MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent extends FieldWrapper implements OnInit {
   description$: Observable<string>;
 
   constructor(private translate: TranslateService) {
@@ -33,8 +34,10 @@ export class TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent extends FieldWrapper implements
   }
 
   private getDescription$(value: string): Observable<string> {
-    return this.translate.get(this.props.customDescription ?? 'textarea.max_limit', {
-      0: Math.max(0, this.props.maxLength - (value?.length ?? 0)),
-    });
+    return this.props.maxLength
+      ? this.translate.get(this.props.maxLengthDescription ?? 'textarea.max_limit', {
+          0: Math.max(0, this.props.maxLength - (value?.length ?? 0)),
+        })
+      : of(undefined);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.html b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.html
deleted file mode 100644
index 44d8c38931..0000000000
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component.html
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-<ng-template #fieldComponent></ng-template>
-<div *ngIf="description$ | async as desc">
-  <small class="form-text ng-star-inserted" data-testing-id="textarea-description">
-    {{ desc }}
-  </small>
-</div>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/wrappers.module.ts b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/wrappers.module.ts
index a601eabfda..a08961c478 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/wrappers.module.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/formly/wrappers/wrappers.module.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { DescriptionWrapperComponent } from './description-wrapper/description-w
 import { HorizontalCheckboxWrapperComponent } from './horizontal-checkbox-wrapper/horizontal-checkbox-wrapper.component';
 import { HorizontalWrapperComponent } from './horizontal-wrapper/horizontal-wrapper.component';
 import { InputAddonWrapperComponent } from './input-addon-wrapper/input-addon-wrapper.component';
-import { TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent } from './textarea-description-wrapper/textarea-description-wrapper.component';
+import { MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent } from './maxlength-description-wrapper/maxlength-description-wrapper.component';
 import { TooltipWrapperComponent } from './tooltip-wrapper/tooltip-wrapper.component';
 import { ValidationWrapperComponent } from './validation-wrapper/validation-wrapper.component';
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const wrapperComponents = [
   HorizontalCheckboxWrapperComponent,
   HorizontalWrapperComponent,
   InputAddonWrapperComponent,
-  TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent,
+  MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent,
   TooltipWrapperComponent,
   ValidationWrapperComponent,
 ];
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const wrapperComponents = [
         { name: 'form-field-horizontal', component: HorizontalWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'form-field-checkbox-horizontal', component: HorizontalCheckboxWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'input-addon', component: InputAddonWrapperComponent },
-        { name: 'textarea-description', component: TextareaDescriptionWrapperComponent },
+        { name: 'maxlength-description', component: MaxlengthDescriptionWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'tooltip', component: TooltipWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'validation', component: ValidationWrapperComponent },
         { name: 'description', component: DescriptionWrapperComponent },