 Reputed to be a vigorous strain, with dark green leaves, the tree is suited to planting by roads, public squares or in landscaped gardens.The bark of the young buds is of a dark red, with very fine hairs, the leaves are thin, soft to the touch, largely oval or almost cordate, green above, paler below.While the leaves of most trees in the area were eaten to a skeleton, those of 'Ornata' remained unaffected.