Size: shrub, 6-10' average height at maturity
Buds: flower buds large, .5" long, pointed, without bracts at base
Leaves: evergreen, alternate, 3-5" long, 1-2" wide, simple, broad elliptic, obtuse, mucronulate tip, margines entire, dark green, whitish underside
Twigs: yellow green, changing to brown with age, glabrous, 1 bundle scar
Flowers: monoecious, lilac purple with yellow green markings inside corolla, but many cultivars with flowers of blue, pink, white, rose, salmon, yellow, etc, 1.5" long, 2.5" wide, borne in clusters to 6" wide, bloom middle to late May.
Fruit: 5-valved dry capsule
