As a European exotic, this shrub grows in a large multi-stemmed form to 12 feet high and about 8 feet wide. It is most impressive in fall when foliage turns to dark blood red. Winter exposes attractive bare, purplish to dark red twigs and branches.

This ornamental is versatile as a small tree when trained into a single-trunk, developed from the shrub form. They are very attractive when used near a patio area in a landscape. Beauty can be enjoyed all through the growing season, from its pinkish-white spring flowers to its handsome foliage. The new leaf growth is an intense red-purple, maturing to a coppery purple.