blood twig
/ˈblʌdˌtwɪɡ/
noun
- A shrub or small tree (genus Cornus, especially Cornus sanguinea) with twigs that turn red in winter; also called dogwood or red osier.
- The blood-twig in the backyard glowed bright red against the snow.
- A bird built its nest in the dense branches of the blood-twig.
- Gardeners often plant blood-twig for its colorful winter stems.