Four white bracts in April, blocky bark, red berries for birds — not for you.

Small understory tree. What look like white petals are bracts around a tight cluster of true flowers. Fruit is a shiny red drupe.

Habitat

Woods edges and understory.

Season

Bracts April; fruit September.

Size

15–30 ft

Field marks

Curved veins; blocky bark; four bracts