The most notable feature is the vibrant yellow or greenish-yellow color of the young, bare stems in winter. This color is particularly intense against a backdrop of snow, dark evergreens, or when planted alongside red twig dogwoods. The leaves are typically green throughout the spring and summer. In the fall, the leaves often turn attractive shades of orange and red before they drop, revealing the colorful stems. In late spring, they produce small clusters of creamy-white flowers. These are followed by white berries that are a good food source for birds.