It occurs in most areas of Ohio, with fertile, dry uplands as its favorite home. It is common on abandoned fields and along fence rows. It is highly prized for its autumn foliage and the coloration of its fruit. Leaf stalks are hairy. The twigs are stout, clumsy, and covered with a dense coating of velvety hairs.
Twigs have conspicuous lateral buds but lack terminal buds.
The buds are small, round, and hairy. Leaf scars are U-shaped and contain three groups of small, greenish bundle scars. Twigs contain a wide, yellowish-brown pith and yield a milky sap when cut or bruised. The dioecious flowers are small, greenish- yellow, and appear in June or early July. The bark on old trunks is rough and dark brown.