Southern Ontario, eastern U.S. to Midwest.
Shrubby, irregular, forming a colonizing thicket, usually taprooted; branching gives winter interest.
Moist, acid, sandy loam in full sun to partial shade. Grows naturally as an understory tree and on the edge of woodlands.
An excellent native plant for good fall color and winter silhouette. A bird-attracting tree. Not often cultivated and difficult to transplant.
Alternate, simple, 3 to 7 inches long, entire or 1-3 lobes, in various shapes; when crushed, produces a spicy fragrance. Bright-green in summer, good yellow,
Buds are ovoid, .33 inches long; green, tinged with red.
Twigs are bright yellow-green. Bark is dark red-brown, forms corky ridges. Has a spicy fragrance when scraped.
Dioecious, flowers yellow, fragrant, 1 to 2 inches before the leaves.
Dark-blue drupe, .5 inches long, with red recepticle.
Seed, root cuttings.
