An upright, spreading, eventualy rounded shrub resembling V. dentatum and V. rafinesquianum.  Leaves are glossier and thicker textured than dentatum providing excellent scorch resistance in full sun.  Creamy-white, flat-topped cymes in early June followed by blue-purple-black fruit.  The species name is derived brom distinctive bracts on the stems of the flower trusses below the flowers.  Fall color is yellow to bronze.  Native to the southeastern United States.  Zone 5