Flowers:
Yellow;white (Small yellow flowers in center of showy bracts;Showy white 2" dia. bracts with flowers in spring)
Foliage:
Green (Summer foliage); Red-Violet (Red to reddish-purple fall foliage)
Fruit:
Red (Bright red fruits (drupes), up to 0.5", in clusters of 3 or 4 in early fall; attract native wildlife, especially birds)
Soil:
Prefers well-drained, moist, slightly acidic soils
Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are opposite, simple, oval to ovate, dark green at 3-6" in length. Leaves have distinct veination best described as 6-7 vein pairs approaching the margin but never seeming to touch, sweeping toward the leaf tip. Large terminal flower buds are shaped like a "Hershey's Kiss". Scaly bark resembles alligator hide.
