• Shape: Multi-stemmed shrub
• Leaf/Branch Arrangement: Alternate
• Flower: Green bell shaped
• Leaves: palmately lobed, ¾-2 inches long, heart shaped base, 3-5 notched lobes, hairy
• Bark: new twigs are green and have short hairs and prickles, second year twigs are gray-brown and thin sometimes splitting to reveal reddish stems, older lower stems are brown/gray with persistent prickles and spines
• Fruit/Seed: round, prickly berry, 1/3-2/3 inch diameter, green-purple/red
• Height: 2-4 feet
• Flowering: April - June
• Habitat: hardwood or mixed forest, thickets, outcrops, floodplains, swamps