Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to Montana, also in the Great Lakes region and eastern North America.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, pastures, meadows, thickets, and forest edge and understory at low elevations, often associated with disturbance. Seeds readily dispersed by birds.

Flowers: April-June

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia and North Africa

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Glabrous, thorny, deciduous small shrub or tree, 2-10 m. tall. Thorns continue to grow as short thorn-tipped branches with leaves budding from the sides of the thorns.

Leaves ovate, deeply 3-lobed more than halfway to the midrib, 2.5-5 cm. long and nearly as broad.

Inflorescence a broad, dense, flat-topped cluster; flowers 8-15 mm. wide, the petals white; style 1.

Fruit a crimson berry, globose, 7-10 mm. in diameter, with single large seed.