The species varies throughout its range, growing as either a shrub or a tree up to about 10m, with erect branches. The buds are somewhat sticky and the leaflets of the compound leaves are long-pointed and double-toothed. Both leaves and flowers of this species are usually larger than those of the native rowan (S. aucuparia).
Another difference from the native species is in the autumn colour, which is a magnificent burst of scarlet or glowing wine-red on the Chinese rowan. Mustila provides a good opportunity to compare the habit and autumn colour of trees of various provenances, with specimens from Sachalin, Hokkaido and central Korea. They are all growing well but the variations between them are large.