Red-Osier Dogwood

Tagged as: Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds, Butterflies, Large Deciduous Shrubs, native, Plants Tolerant of Wet Sites

Botanical Name: Cornus sericea ssp. sericea
Common Name: Red-Osier Dogwood

Updated 3/2012

Click on an image to enlarge

leaves	winter form

Height: 7-9' Spread: 8-10' Habit/Form: Broad spreading, rounded, multi-stemmed
Growth Rate: Fast  Zone: 2-7

Cultural Requirements: Extremely adaptable to a wide range of soil and climate conditions but best in wet, moist soils in full sun to part shade. To retain upright stems and good red color, remove a few of the oldest stems every year in early spring.

Ornamental Characteristics: Medium to dark green leaves change to purplish-red in the fall. Yellowish-white flowers appear in late May to early June, with bluish-white fruit borne in late summer. Attractive red stems in the winter add winter interest.

Uses in the Landscape: Best is moist sites, along ponds or along riverbanks. Use in the shrub border and massed in large landscapes. This shrub is best sited where the background, such as evergreens, will show off the dark red winter stems.

Butterfly Caterpillar/larval Host: Spring Azure

Birds Attracted: 98+ species including flicker, tanager, woodpeckers, and catbird

Plant Appeal for Birds: Fruit ripens in summer; shelter

Plant tolerant of flooded areas for extended periods of time.

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