It is a deciduous tree or shrub that can reach 8 m in height. Very branched, it forms a wide and flat crown. The bark, smooth and medium brown (brown), peels annually. Oval, opposite, dark green leaves. The leaves appear in spring of copper color and in autumn they acquire yellow and orange shades. The inflorescence is a terminal panicle about 9 cm long. Bell-shaped flowers with 6 curled-edged petals of white, pink or mauve color. There are purple or red varieties. The fruit is a blackish capsule of little more than 1 cm.