Form: This is a medium sized reaching 60 - 80 ft. in height. It's branches often grow at right angles.

Leaves:
             

Arrangement: alternate

Shape: obovate to elliptical; abruptly acuminate

Margin: entire

Texture: glabrous

Venation: parallel

Bark: The bark is light grayish-brown in color, fissured, and broken into blocks.

Twigs and buds: It has a leaf scar with 3 bundle scars. The twig is light brown.

Flowers and fruit: It produces a fleshy purple-black drupe. Flowers hangs in clusters and are greenish-white in color.

Distinguishing characteristics: It has alternate leaves which distinguishes it from flowering dogwood. It can be confused with sourwood. However, it does not have hairs along the midrib like sourwood and it has a more tear dropped leaf shape.

Range: Central Florida north to southwest Maine west to west Tennessee.

Silvics: It has intermediate tolerance to shade and prefers mesic to dry uplands.

Ecological and cultural importance: The fruit is good for animals. It develops bright red fall foliage before other trees begin to change. The wood has been used for gun stocks and pistol grips.