Size: shrub, 4-8' average height at maturity (6-12' spread)
Leaves: deciduous, opposite, .75-1.75" long and nearly as wide, simple eliptic ovate, acute or obtuse tip, margins entire, new leaves rimmed with red, later dark green
Twigs: gray, few lenticels
Flowers: monoecious, violet purple, each .5" long and .25" wide in clusters up to 4" long and 2.5" wide, bloom in May, fragrant
Fruit: warty capsule, .5-.75" long
