The plant's greatest attributes are its fall leaf and winter twig color. Green leaves in summer turn yellow and orange, holding its leaves later in the season than other Cornus alba forms.The winter twig color is yellow at the base, deepening to fiery orange and red at the tips - quite stunning against snow. Vigorous young stems soon start the cycle for the next year, if stems are trimmed back nearly to ground level in April. Does best in full sun and well-drained soils.