Red-osier dogwood is a large, 7 to 9 foot, erect shrub. Besides attractive, red stems in the winter, red-osier dogwood has yellowish-white flowers that appear in late May to early June, and bluish-white fruit borne in late summer. Fall color is reddish-purple. The shrubs can be used in front of evergreens that will show off the dark red winter stems.
This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research.
This species was formerly known as Cornus stolonifera.
More Information
Size and Form
Red-osier dogwood is a large to medium, upright shrub reaching 7 to 10 feet high and wide.
Native Geographic Location and Habitat
Found throughout much of North America. Common in wet sites. C-Value: 1.
Pollinator and Wildlife Information
Over 98 species of birds, including flicker, tanager, woodpeckers, and catbird are attracted to the plant’s fruit and use the plant as shelter.
Bark Description
Young stems turn an attractive red in the winter.
Leaf Description
The opposite, simple leaves are 2 to 5 inches long and oblong to ovate in shape. They are medium green, lighter underneath, changing to a reddish-purple fall color.
Flower Description
White flowers develop in 1 1/2 to 2 inch flat-topped clusters.
Fruit Description
Bluish-white fruit (drupe) ripens in late summer.
Care Knowledge
Plant Care
For best flowering and winter color, grow red-osier dogwood in full sun. Though, it is tolerant of shade conditions and is very adaptable to soil conditions, including wet soils.
Red-osier dogwood will form thickets. If left unpruned, plants reach 7 to 9 feet high and 10 feet wide. It thrives in moist sites along ponds or river banks.
To retain stems with good red color, remove a few of the oldest stems to the ground every spring.
Pests, Diseases, and Tolerances
Stem canker is common on this species, and leaf spots are common.
Cultivars
This plant is a cultivar of a species that is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm’s Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research.
Cultivars are plants produced in cultivation by selective breeding or via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits.
Bergeson’s Compact red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea ‘Bergeson’s Compact’)
This cultivar has a compact habit reaching 4 to 6 feet high and has good fall color and red winter stems.
Budd’s Yellow red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea ‘Budd’s Yellow)
A 6 to 8 foot high and 5-6 foot wide, rounded shrub with bright yellow stems.
Cardinal red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea ‘Cardinal’)
8 to 10 feet high and wide; spreading form with orange-red fall color and cherry-red winter stems; resistant to leaf spots.
Pucker Up! red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea ‘Neil Z’)
A 3 to 4 foot high and wide, upright shrub with glossy, puckered leaves and red twigs.
