Japan Flora: Large deciduous shrub, with longitudinally fissured bark; branches gray-brown, short curved-hairy while young, glabrcs- cent; leaves obovatc-cuncate, sometimes oblong or elliptic, 4-7(-10) cm. long, abruptly acute to short-acuminate, some­times rounded at apex, with short incurved teeth, scattered-pilose on both surfaces and on the nerves beneath, the petiole 2-8 mm. long; panicles 3-6 cm. long, pilose, the bracts mem­branous, linear, small, caducous; flowers white, 7-8 mm. across; calyx-teeth ovate-rounded, membran 이is; stamens slightly longer than the corolla; fruit obliquely ovoid, 6-7 mm. long, blue；May-June.

Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu., Korea, and Manchuria

 

Korea Flora: Deciduous shrub with spreading branches. Winter buds and young shoots: Terminal buds circular with pointed tips, 6-8 bud scales. Pseudo-terminal buds similar to lateral buds, 1-2mm long. Young shoots pubescent. Leaf scars semicircular or crescent-shaped. Leaves alternate, elliptical or oblong-spoon-shaped, apex acuminate or acute, base broadly cuneate, size 3-7cm × 3-4cm. Upper surface dark green,  glabrous; lower surface with or without hairs. Margins with long serrations, sometimes indistinct. Petiole 2-5mm long. Flowers in panicles 4-8cm long, at the ends of new branches. Flowers 8-10mm in diameter, both petals and sepals white, fragrant. Pedicels pubescent. Petals oblong, spreading. Numerous stamens, 20-30. Fruit and seed ellipsoid, 8mm long, navy blue (blue) in color.

Flowering: Late April to mid-June

Fruiting: September

Distribution: Northeastern China, Japan from Hokkaido to Kyushu; throughout Korea

Ecological characteristics: Grows in moist, sloping or flat areas, in deciduous broadleaf forests. Intermediate between shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant species.

Taxonomic notes: Previously treated as a variety or form of S. chinensis (Lour.) Druce distributed in China. However, the Chinese species differs significantly, having yellow hairs, larger flowers (4-5mm vs. 3-4mm), 50-60 stamens (vs. 25-40 in S. japonicus), and black fruits. The specific epithets 'pilosa' and 'leucocarpa' are both later homonyms and cannot be used. Nagamasu proposed a new specific epithet for this species.