Deciduous shrub, rarely tree 1-3 (max. 6 m) high.The bark is grey-brown, smooth, with lenticels. Leaves are simple. The margin is entire. The lamina is widely elliptic, soft with 6 to 11 pairs of veins. The flowers are small, with 5 petals, green. Flowering in May and June (rarely in July). The fruit are drupes in maturity violet red. Contains 3 pips. Shoots: Shoots are reddish-brown, shortly hairy, later hairless. Lenticels are elongated and yellowish-colored. After breaking shoots smell aromatically. Natural range: Europe to Western Asia, North Africa; in our area domestic.