Zone: 3-6
Height: 450-600cm (15-20ft)
Spread:  Forms a colony of shrubs through root suckers, if not curtailed
Growth:  Natural shape is a horizontal oval, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub.  It grows rapidly in spring,  with velvety-brown twigs ("staghorns"), long, fern-like bright green leaves and dense, pyramidal clusters of small green flowers - slightly different on male and female plants.  In fall, the female flower clusters become beautiful dark red spikes of fuzzy seeds that persist into winter, providing critical food for critters and birds.  But the real fall show is the changing colours of foliage - bright yellow-orange-red-purple - in the fall before falling to create a mulch that shelters native insects overwinter.
Light:  Best in full sun to light shade
Water:  Happiest in wet soils but tolerates some dry spells
Soil:  Tolerates dry, rocky, poor soil as long as it is well-drained
Garden location:  Good for forest edge/wild garden; excellent for erosion control, but also fine as a specimen plant if well-maintained.