The leaves are simple, alternate, entire to three-lobed, with both sides glabrous, shiny green.

The inedible fruit is not hardy and transitions from green to indigo, purple and, lastly, black as it ripens.

The glabrous fruits contain a multitude of tiny seeds in a dark blue pulp, which are dispersed by birds.

It is extremely prolific (up to 1000 seeds per square meter), smothering any vegetation it grows on, including trees.

This species is a host plant for the caterpillars of the Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), Julia heliconian (Dryas iulia), Mexican silverspot (Dione moneta), red postman (Heliconius erato), and zebra heliconian (Heliconius charithonia).