Spreading tree to 30 metres with smooth greyish bark eventually fissured. Leaves alternate, pinnate, with 7 to 9 elliptical untoothed leaflets, aromatic when crushed.

Often planted but sometimes naturalised.

Flowers April to May.

Deciduous.

Widespread and fairly frequent in England and Wales, mainly as a result of planting.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland usually as a planted tree. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 14 of the 617 tetrads but some specimens may not have been recorded at the time as planted trees were not always included depending on their location.