It is native to China and Korea, and it is known in many other parts of the world as an introduced species and sometimes an invasive noxious weed.

It may grow as a tree with a single trunk or as a shrub with several spreading erect branches reaching 6 metres or more in maximum height.

[3] It also reproduces by its seed, which are tiny and tufted with hairs, easily dispersing on the wind.

[3] Despite its reputation as a noxious weed, the tree can be useful for wood, in honey production, and as a nesting site for various birds.

[3] In its native habitat in China the plant forms thickets that act as useful barriers on the margins of waterways, including saline ocean shores.