Downy arrowwood is a deciduous shrub, 5-8 feet tall, native to eastern North America. It is noted for its finely twigged display of showy flower clusters and can be used as an ornamental substitute for the southern arrowwood. Downy arrowwood prefers full sun to part shade, suckers readily, and is drought tolerant once established.

Leaves are ovate to elliptic with coarse teeth and tips coming to a point. The colour is dark green above, densely pubescent below, and a pair of stipules are present at the base of the leaf. Leaves turn purplish red in the fall. Young stems are reddish-brown with a silvery gray coating. Older stems have rust-like lenticels. A showy display of white flowers in flat toped clusters appear in May. Clusters of fruit (drupes) turn to bluish black when ripe and attract wildlife