It varies considerably in morphology according to the age of the tree and site characteristics. Slender staminate catkins develop on the wood of the previous year. Variations in precipitation from year to year can affect fruit production and seedling establishment.
Trees grow best in deep, alluvial soils with high water-holding capacity.
Trees on warmer or drier sites develop leaves several weeks earlier than those in cooler, more mesic locations. Flowering begins about the same time as leaf production, with fruits developing to full size during spring. By late summer fruits have matured.