Young twigs are mottled red, black, and green, pubescent and aromatic. Terminal bud is yellow-green and prominent with up to four overlapping scales.
Flowers are yellow and fruit is a dark blue drupe on a red stalk.
Intolerant of shade. Click on photo to enlarge. All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form. 1999, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan or Todd Langston.