Red-osier dogwood

One or more breaking leaf buds are visible on the plant. In a breaking bud, the green leaf tip is visible. This is before the first leaf from has unfolded to expose the leaf stalk (petiole) or leaf base.  Photo by EO.

One or more live, unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. In an unfolded leaf, the entire length has emerged from a bud, so that the leaf stalk (petiole) or leaf base is visible. 

Most leaves on the plant have not yet reached full size. 

One or more leaves show some color, or yellow or brown due to drought or other stresses. 

One or more fresh open or unopened flowers or buds are visible on the plant. 

One or more open, fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Open flowers have reproductive parts (male stamens or female pistils) visible between or within unfolded petals.

One or more fruits are visible on the plant. For dogwood, the fruit is berry-like and changes from green to white or sometimes bluish.

One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For dogwood, a fruit is considered ripe when it is soft and has turned white or sometimes bluish.