[1][2] It is native to China, Korea, Mongolia, eastern Siberia, and Japan.

[3] This plant is similar to common buckthorn, but the stems are more stout and the leaves are longer.

The oppositely arranged leaves are up to 13 centimeters long by 6 wide in its native range, and usually smaller where it is introduced.

[3] In the United States this is an invasive species, growing in woodlands, forests, and other habitat types.

In its native China it occurs in wet places, such as the edges of canals.