Size: shrub, 15-25' average height and spread at maturity
Buds: terminal naked, brownish, pubescent, flower buds absent in winter, remnants (sepals) of flowers persist as young undeveloped fruits that overwinter and mature the second year
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, 3-6" long, 2-3.5" wide, leaves thinish, obovate or elliptic, tips obtuse, short acuminate, coarsely crenate or dentate margins, medium or dark green, yellow in fall
Twigs: zigzagging, brownish, pubescent, pith small, green
Flowers: monoecious, yellow flowers in October, 4 straplike petals, each .5" long, fragrant
Fruit: pubescent 2-valved capsule, .5"
Bark: smooth gray to gray-brown
