Cornus sericea
Full bloomCornus sericea
Cornaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · introduced
Last updated
Red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea, Cornaceae) is a deciduous broadleaf shrub native to North America, widespread except in the lower midwest and deep South. It reaches 6 to 9 feet tall with a multi-stemmed, suckering habit, spreading by underground stolons to form thickets. White flowers appear in flat-topped clusters from May to June, followed by white or ivory fruit. Fall color ranges from red-orange to purple, and bright red stems (or lime-green in 'Flaviramea') provide winter interest.
Red-twig dogwood grows in full sun on wet-tolerant soils (pH 4.8 to 7.5) with high tolerance of anaerobic conditions, hardy in Zones 3b to 9b. It tolerates deer browse, erosion, clay soil, and wet soil. It tolerates renovation pruning with 90 to 95 percent removal in late winter to maintain stem color. Maintenance is medium. Disease and pest associations mirror the Cornus genus broadly. Cultivars include 'Flaviramea' (yellow-green stems, RHS Award of Garden Merit), 'Baileyi,' 'Isanti,' and 'Kelseyi.'
Quick Facts
Primary Spore Release
Crawler Emergence
Active Below-ground Growth
Spring Emergence / Primary Infection
+ 2 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Field Observations
Phenological Calendar
As of May 13, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1906.2 to 2098.2 GDD₃₂. Cornus sericea has passed full bloom (1702 GDD₃₂).
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of May 13, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,098 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,089 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 2,063 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,025 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,993 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,972 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,906 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| Flower buds visible BBCH 55 | — | — |
| Bloom start BBCH 61 | 1454 | Mar 15-May 15 |
| ● Full bloom BBCH 65 NOW | 1702 | — |
| Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93 | 606 | Oct 1-Nov 15 |
| Bud break BBCH 07 | 810 | Feb 15-Mar 15 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | 1016 | Mar 1-Apr 1 |
| Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69 | — | Apr 15-May 31 |
| Fruit/seed development BBCH 71 | — | Jun 1-Aug 31 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | — | Nov 15-Feb 28 |
Sources: USDA Plants Database (seasonal estimate) ; OSU phenology catalog (weather.cfaes.osu.edu) ; field observation, Issaquah WA 2026-05-11 (GDD₃₂ estimated from May 10: 2009.6 + ~25/day trend) ; NPN citizen science observations (WA+OR), n=141, median. services.usanpn.org (NPN: NPN) About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of May 13, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through May 29, 2026, then climate normals.
Diseases: Regionally Documented (7)
Pests: Regionally Documented (6)
Cultivars (4)
Red-twig dogwood is the standard understory shrub in wet riparian corridors throughout the Puget Sound lowlands. Thrives on Woodinville silt loam (Green River valley floor), Bellingham clay (depressions), and other poorly drained sites. Renovation prune in late winter (Feb-Mar) to encourage fresh red stem growth. Responds well to coppicing (90-95% removal). Paired with Douglas spirea, sedges, and rushes in rain gardens and riparian restoration.
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist