Full sun-part shade; moderate water. Slow growth to 18-25ft in height and almost as wide. With some training it may be developed into a specimen tree. The light green leaves are about 3in. long, and are arranged in pairs or in whorls of three. Occasionally they are armed with a stout spine in the leaf axils. Dark purple flowers, with a fine white line bordering each of the five petals in summer-fall. The dime-sized flowers are produced in short clusters about 6in. long. Small round yellow fruit are produced after flowering. The fruit is poisonous to humans, but evidently birds are not affected as they are responsible for seed dispersal.