Size: shrub, 3-5' average height and spread at maturity
Buds: superposed, upper larger than lower, imbricate, reddish green
Leaves: deciduous, semievergreen or evergreen, alternate, 1.5-4" long, .75-1.25" wide, simple, elliptic to oblong, tips acute or short acuminate, margins usually serrulate, medium to dark green above, often slightly pubescent below, fall colors include vivid reds, purples, yellows, oranges
Twigs: crescent-shaped leaf scars, irregularly chambered white pith
Flowers: monoecious, white, dense upright clusters that are 2-6" long and .625" wide, individual flowers .33-.5" wide, lightly fragrant, bloom in June
Fruit: capsules, .25-.33", with 5 valves, persist through winter
Bark: green to reddish purple
