A small to medium sized tree to 60 feet with a round-topped crown of crooked branches. A plum-like berry that is green before ripening, turning orange to black when ripe, 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter, leafy bracts on top of fruit. The fruit is very astringent and mouth numbing when green, sweet and edible when ripe after a hard freeze; matures in mid to late fall. Prefers moist, well drained soil but tolerates dry soil.
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