In Europe and North America, the species is sometimes employed as tree for the garden and has been in cultivation since 1861.

Young shoots are short, palely pubescent and bright orange to red-brown in colour.

They are a dark green in colour, glossy and furrowed above with two chalk white stomatal bands below.

The dull purple, ovoid pistillate flowers are terminal on either long or short shoots.

They measure about 5 mm (0.20 inches) and as they mature become pale green with the centre and margin of each scale being purple.