Woody shrub 3 to 6 feet high and about the same width with lustrous green leaves and clusters of whitish-pink flowers. Bears round, shiny edible black berries, about the size of small blueberries, in suspended clusters. Berries best sweetened or used for juice. Shrub tolerates wide range of environments including swampy ground, drought, dry sandy soil, pollution. Tolerates part shade but susceptible to mildew and leggy growth. Prefers full sun.