Distribution: Sparingly introduced in Washington; escaped throughout central and eastern United States and Canada.

Habitat: Disturbed areas

Flowers: April-May

Origin: Introduced

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees

Deciduous shrubs 0.3-3 m. tall, the stems dimorphic, with elongate primary and short axillary shoots; second year bark glabrous, purple to brown; stems spiny.

Leaves simple; petioles 0-0.8 cm. long; leaf blades obovate to spatulate, 1-veined from the base, 1.2-2.4 cm. long and 0.3-1 cm. wide, thin and flexible, the base tapered, the margins plane and entire, the tip rounded; surfaces smooth and dull.

Inflorescence a 1- to 5-flowered umbel, 1-1.5 cm. long; flowers yellow, with 6 sepals, 6 petals, and 3 membranous, scale-like bracteoles; stamens 6.

Berries red, ellipsoid or spheric, 9-10 mm. in diameter, juicy and solid