It is native to the woodlands of the European deciduous forest, north Asia, and north Africa.
A deciduous shrub in the honey-suckle family (Caprifoliacea) growing to a height of 4 meters with upright, spreading, arching branches. The leaves are opposite, ovate, 5-12 cm long, deeply 3-lobed, coarsely toothed, turning yellow-red or reddish-purple in the fall. The flowers are snowy white with flat heads in 7 to 12 cm clusters. The flowers develop red berries 1 cm in diameter that turn bright red in August attracting birds that spread the seeds.