A perennial herbaceous plant with woody branches reaching a height of 2 m, a fleshy rhizome weighing up to 10 kg and a dense spherical crown.
The bark of many commonweeds is reddish-purple or green. The flowers are bisexual, with 5 sepals, white or greenish-white, elliptical or oblong, 3-4 mm in size, stamens and carpels 7-10.
It is unpretentious in care, winters quietly under the snow, and is able to recover even after the harshest winters. In the spring it rises very quickly, sometimes drowning out the growth of nearby plants. The berries appear closer to autumn. It is undemanding to soil composition and acidity.