It is one of the red forms of the linear lobe group. Leaves are of a dark blackish- red colour at the beginning of the season and can get brown later especially if it is in direct sun-light. The leaf has five very thin and widely spaced lobes, totally separated at the base, which are joined together at the petiole level.
The leaves attached to the current year's growth are much coarser. They can be semi-palmated on new vigorous buds. As the wood mature the leaves take up their typical "stripe-like" shape.
This is a small, erect habit plant, rather full of twigs. As it does not grow taller than 3 metres, it could be also classed as a large shrub.