The bark is smooth, olive-green with regular narrow vertical white stripes and small horizontal brownish lenticels; it retains its pattern to the base even on old trees.

They are matt to sub-shiny green in summer, turning to bright yellow, orange or red in the autumn.

[1] It is grown as an ornamental tree for its striped bark and good autumn foliage.

When grown together with its close relatives, it may be distinguished from them by the additional presence of small, rust-orange spots on the bark.

[5] This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.