Size: shrub, 8-10' average height at maturity, spread slightly larger
Buds: winter buds have valvate scales, flower and vegetative buds are short-pointed, 2 outer scales usually split apart at center, backs are keeled, edge of each scale curled back
Leaves: deciduous, opposite, branches usually 2-ranked (in a single flat plane like a fishbone), 2-5" long, 1-2.5" wide, simple, broadly ovate, tips acute or acuminate, teeth dentate-serrate, dark green, conspicuous veins, fall color reddish purple
Twigs: stellate tomentose when young
Flowers: monoecious or dioecious, white, in flat-topped cymes up to 6", outer flowers sterile and snow-white, inner flowers fertile and inconspicuous, cymes held above leaves all along branches
Fruit: .33" egg-shaped drupe, red maturing to black
Bark: dark gray or brownish, orange lenticels
