Flower Notes:
Cream (Slightly fragrant 1-2" long apetalous terminal racemes appearing in April)
Foliage Notes:
Green (Bright medium green leaves in summer, non-lobed, mitten-shaped, or three lobed); Multi-Colored (Develops shades of yellow to deep orange to scarlet fall foliage in October, quite excellent)
Stem Notes:
Bright Yellowish Green to Red (glabrous, glaucous, spicy aroma in taste and smell)
Fruit Notes:
Brown (Not ornamentally important)
Soil Notes:
Widely adapted to diffferent soils, but high pH can cause iron chlorosis and turn leaves yellow
Diagnostic Characteristics:
Polymorphic leaves are alternate, simple, entire and 3-7" long. Terminal flower buds are green tinged with more red toward tip. Sympodial growth due to stem growth from lateral rather than terminal buds in spring. Stems have spicy-aromatic smell and taste.