Small deciduous tree, commonly 4 to 6 m high, though it may reach a height of up to 15 m. It reaches its full growth when it is 20 years old, more or less. At the beginning of spring, it shows a prolific display of pink flowers that appear before the leaves. The trunk’s wood is smooth and light in colour, turning black and gnarled with age. The crown is open and irregular. The leaves are simple, alternate, smooth, rounded or heart-shaped, 7 to 12 cm long, with a pointed or round apex, and they present a palmate venation. They are light green on the upper side and slightly greyish-blue on the underside. The young leaves can be rosy and appear late, even in April.