A medium-sized vigorous tree. In all respects larger than H. carolina. Branches and trunk are grey and older trunks flake off. The older branches bend, but the tree has a considerably narrower crown than H. carolina. The green leaves turn yellow in the autumn. The pendulous, bell-shaped flowers resemble snowdrops, are approx. 2.5 cm in diameter and occur in axillary bundles. They appear in particularly large numbers in the spring at the same time as the new leaves. The oval fruit has 2 to 4 longitudinal wings and hangs on thin stalks. They turn brown after ripening and remain hanging on the tree for a long time. The roots go down deep and are very hard. Halesia much prefers a humus-rich, lightly humid soil. It also grows well in acid soils.