A medium-sized, tolerant tree found on a variety of Pacific Coast sites. Leaves are persistent (evergreen), simple, alternate, oval-oblong, leathery, entire to coarsely serrate, and up to 4-1/2" in length. Twigs are slender, having buds with imbricate, bright brown scales. Fruit is a terminal panicle of orange-red, berry-like drupes. Bark is dark reddish-brown with thin deciduous scales.