The showy white or pink flowers produce slender, brown fruit which splits open to reveal a red-orange lining. The large, brown seeds are distributed by birds. Dark purple fruit is edible when fully ripe, and relished by fruit-eating birds. Flycatchers, gnatcatchers and warblers abound during its extensive flowering season, taking advantage of the cornucopia of insects drawn to the flowers. Hummingbirds can be found darting from flower to flower, taking advantage of the abundant nectar.
Stoppers excel as bird attractors because of their small, fleshy fruits.
They work well in group plantings and thickets, or as border plants under large trees. Male and female plants are required to fruit. The small fruit appears in clusters on older branches and is eaten by numerous species of birds. Tubular, reddish-orange flowers are produced virtually every day of the year. The flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.