E. americanus is an upright, open, medium-sized, deciduous shrub with green stems, cream and green variegated leaves turning red in autumn, inconspicuous cream flowers in summer and red, spiky fruit capsules enclosing orange fruit in autumn.
The plant occurs naturally in moist acidic woodlands, but is able to adapt to a wide range of conditions. Once established, it can tolerate poor drainage or moderate droughts and alkaline terrain, although well-drained summer-irrigated beds of humus rich soil produce better growth and fruits.
