IME it will branch and send up other stems on its own.

So no need for special pruning or anything like that? I was confused reading online, sometimes it's described as a large bush and sometimes as a tree.

i wasn't sure if that was an individualized genetic difference or based upon different care/pruning.

It's a small tree. It's native to my woods and I've never seen it as a bush.

Its based on both- genetic differences and pruning, and probably sun exposure plays into as well. However, all the ones I see growing wild in MD are shrubby... I planted one and it has sent up suckers which makes it a good screen. Occasionally they get powder mildew though, and the leaves drop early when that happens.

Jimmy do you prune yours at all? How tall has it gotten and in how much time? Appreciate the info