This herbaceous perennial is 30 centimeters (12 in) to 80 centimeters (31 in) in height. The stems are only sparingly branched and have a softly fuzzy texture when young and become smooth or nearly so with age. The leaves are alternate and are about 4 centimeters (1.6 in) to 12 centimeters (4.7 in) long.[4]
The flowers are delicate and hang down from the stem tips, each flower has four pedals. The berry is larger than a Saskatoon, pincherry or chokecherry, about the size of a grocery store cherry or small grape. The rough-fruited fairybell can be found in the same locale as other native fruits such as Saskatoons and chokecherries.[5][6][7] Berries begin yellow, then orange and when fully ripe are red, often with all three colors on the same raceme.[8] Typically 2—3 berries grow on each stem tip. The surface of the fruit feels fuzzy and velvety.[4] The berries are edible, but bland.[9]
^Utech, F. H., Z. K. Shinwari, and S. Kawano. 1995. Biosystematic studies in Disporum (Liliaceae-Asparagoideae-Polygonateae). VI. Recognition of the North American section Prosartes as an autonomous genus. Memoirs of the Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Series Biology 16: 1–41.
^Vance, F.R.; Jowsey, J.R.; McLean, J.S. (1977), Wildflowers Across the Prairies, Saskatoon, SK: Western Producer Books, p. 141, ISBN0-919306-74-8
^Vance, F R; J.R. Rowsey; J.S Maclean; F.A. Switzer (1999), Wildflowers across the prairies With a new section on Grasses, sedges and rushes, Vancouver, British Columbia: Western Producer Prairie Books, p. 25, ISBN1-55054-703-8
^Wilkinson, Kathleen (1999), Wildflowers of Alberta A Guide to Common Wildflowers and Other Herbaceous Plants, Edmonton Alberta: Lone Pine Publishing and University of Alberta, p. 19, ISBN0-88864-298-9
^Barr, Claude A. (1983). Jewels of the plains : wild flowers of the Great Plains grasslands and hills. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 67. ISBN0-8166-1127-0.
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