Deciduous trees with alternating, palmaticompost leaves with very long stalks that form a dense and dark parasol-shaped canopy. Sometimes the trunk expands at the base and is covered in pointed thorns that drop off as the tree grows. It is used a lot in gardening because of its white or pink flowers that fill the canopy in spring and summer, and due to the fact that it is easy to grow in Barcelona.
The name of the genus is dedicated to Russian painter Louis Choris (1795-1828), naturalist sketcher who took part in expeditions of exploration by the Russian imperial navy.