A multi-stemmed, shrubby, small tree with a spreading crown, reaching up to 30 feet tall with numerous rigid spiny branches; readily suckers from the roots. Bark initially reddish gray, smooth with numerous horizontal lenticels, later becoming rough with irregular ridges and exfoliating curling strips. Twig slender, reddish brown, later developing an exfoliating gray film, leaf scars raised; buds reddish to gray and sharp pointed, some twigs becoming thorns. Leaves alternate, simple, ovate to elliptical, finely serrated margin, sharply pointed tip, 3 to 4 inches long, green above, and slightly paler beneath. Flowers white, 5 petals, 1 inch across, long filaments, yellow anthers, appear in small clusters in early spring with the leaves. Drupe fleshy, nearly round, 1 inch across, reddish purple to yellow-brown, some glaucous bloom, ripen in mid to late summer.

Astringent, disinfectant, diuretic and pectoral (inner bark).

Plants For A Future

A tea made from the scraped inner bark is used as a wash to treat various skin problems and as a mouth wash to treat sores. A poultice of the inner bark is used for treating cuts and wounds. It has been used to make a cough syrup. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea, kidney and bladder complaints. An infusion of the twigs has been used in the treatment of asthma.