It can be a single- or multi-stemmed tree, with glossy green foliage which forms a nice round crown. This tree is fast-growing and frost-tolerant. It has a straight, smoothish, grey or creamy-white trunk, sometimes mottled or marked with orange.

The leaves are glossy dark green above, pale green and dull below, they are hairless and give off a faint smell of almonds when crushed, indicating the release of cyanide. The leaves are opposite, simple, entire-margined, oblong to lanceolate. The tip of the leaves is rounded, notched and is usually tinged with pink or red.

The flowers are very small, pale to dark pink in colour, and are slightly fragrant. Flowers are in loose, axillary heads that are usually more than half as long as the leaves. Flowering time is from spring to summer. After flowering, the tree forms clusters of small round fruit which turn red in autumn and hang on the tree until well into winter. These attract birds to the garden.