The specimen is a small tree, at least in height. Buds are oval to conical. The leaves of Houston's whitebeam have a similarity to those of Bristol whitebeam, although they are wider. The leaves are teardrop-shaped to teardrop-oval, and about 1.5 times as long as wide, with an apex that tapers to a long point and a base that is relatively wide. The leaves are shallowly, acutely lobed, 7–14% of the way to the central vein. The leaf margins are weakly doubly serrate. The upper surface is dark green and hairless, the lower greenish-white with matted plant hairs and between 17 and 22 veins that project at an angle of 32 to 39 degrees from the central vein. The
petioles are in length. The
inflorescence measures up to in diameter, with individual flowers in diameter. The fragrant flowers have
sepals that are narrow and triangular, and white petals that are widely oval to nearly round, x . The
stamens are pink. The fruit are generally round, the largest up to in diameter; mature fruit are orange-red with fully formed seeds. There is a moderate number of
lenticels. == Discovery ==