The trunk is often twisted or multistemmed, and the crown rounded and spreading. The outline is often rugged and picturesque, especially in winter. The twigs are often zigzag and armed with long, shiny, unbranched, sharp thorns.
Leaves are simple, alternate, serrated or shallowly lobed in most species.
Fall color can be red, yellow, orange or purple. Flowers occur in showy flat-topped clusters in late spring after the leaves, and colors range from white through pink, to red. Often the flowers have a sweet, fetid odor. The taste, texture and color varies, but haws can be red, yellow, green or black, and usually they are dry and mealy but can be sweet and juicy. The small leaf scars are crescent-shaped with 3 bundle scars.