Starting from a shrub and growing into a small tree with multiple stems and a spherical crown. When maturing the branches may hang down a little, making the crown as wide as it is high. The tree grows slowly. Twigs turn from red brown into grey. Mature trunks get grey spots due to flaking. The leaf is dark green and the underside is grey. In autumn it colours beautifully from scarlet red to violet. Each head with inconspicuous little flowers is surrounded by 4 bracts that are large and have a white to slightly pinkish-red hue. This makes the inflorescence in full bloom very decorative. The ovate fruits are circa 1.5 cm across and are red coloured. The plant is shallow rooting with a fibrous root system and requires a rich soil with a high humus content, that is not too dry.