Young trunks reddish brown, rather smooth with large horizontally elongated lenticels, older trunks roughened but not fissured. The outer bark peels off in thin film-like layers revealing green inner bark. Common in the mountainous sections of the state, rare in the southeast and southwest corners. A valuable reforestation species after fire or limbering clears the land. It provides shade for seedlings of other tree species which follow it in succession and the fruits are food for many birds and small mammals.
Deer browse the twigs and young leaves.