Size: groundcover, 2-3' average height at maturity, 4-7' spread
Buds: often superposed, uppermost larger, breaks off first to form main branch, about 4 scales
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, 2-ranked, 1-3", simple, ovate, tips long acuminate with incised lobes and serrations, bright green, reddish purple or reddish orange in fall
Twigs: bud and leaf scar below branch, color uniform light brown, smooth
Flowers: monoecious, yellowish white, 2.5" terminal clusters, inconspicuous
Fruit: inconspicuous follicle
Bark: warm brown
