A deciduous shrub up to 10 or 15 ft high. Leaves of always three leaflets, which are broadly ovate, 2 to 4 in. long, occasionally doubly toothed, pale and downy all over the lower surface, dark green and less downy above, the middle leaflet is long-stalked, the side ones very shortly so. Panicles short, drooping, 11⁄2 to 2 in. long, either terminating the leading shoot or small side twigs; flowers bell-shaped, dingy white. Fruit a usually three-celled capsule, 11⁄4 to 11⁄2 in. long, less in width; seeds yellowish, 3⁄16 in. long.
Native of the eastern United States; cultivated in England in 1640, but not ornamental enough ever to have been extensively grown. It is easily distinguished from the other species in cultivation by the very downy leaves. There appears to be rarely more than one seed to each cell, often none.