This deciduous shrub has oval, mid-green leaves and produces small, creamy-white flowers in May and June. But it's really grown for the brilliant, flame-coloured stems that are revealed when the leaves, which turn orange-yellow in autumn. This fabulous dogwood looks best planted in groups in damp areas of the garden, beside water, or in a winter border. It is best in full sun, and works particularly well with red or purple-stemmed varieties of dogwood.