This deciduous shrub features an upright, multi-stemmed habit and grows to a mature height of 10-30 feet, with a spread of 10-20 feet. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained, moist soils, though it is tolerant of a variety of soil types. Its delicate, sweetly scented white flowers bloom in flat-topped clusters in late spring to early summer, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. By late summer, these give way to small, bluish-black berries loved by birds and often used for jams, syrups, and wines. The attractive foliage transforms to a vibrant yellow in fall, adding seasonal interest. Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established, it serves as an excellent option for wildlife gardens or naturalized areas. Its overall form is open and spreading, and it adapts beautifully to versatile landscape uses.
