Red Osier Dogwood

Red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea subsp. sericea, Cornaceae) is the typical subspecies of the widespread North American native, a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub reaching 6 to 9 feet tall. It spreads by underground stolons, forming thickets of bright red to purplish stems. White flower clusters from May to June are followed by white to ivory fruit.

This subspecies shares the cultural requirements and pest/disease profile of the species. It grows in full sun on wet-tolerant soils, is highly adaptable to clay and anaerobic conditions, and tolerates renovation pruning for stem color maintenance. See C. sericea for full cultural details.