Cornus sericea

Red-twig (Redosier) Dogwood
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Habit is broad-spreading to rounded. Average landscape size of 6-9' tall and 6-10' wide, sometimes wider. The national champion in Idaho is 26' tall by 15' wide. Fast growth rate, quite vigorous. Lives 20-50 years, which is considered short-lived for shrubs.

Native Range

Kentucky Native — Species native to the Northern, North Central, and some Midwest United States. Native from Newfoundland to Manitoba south to Virginia, Kentucky and Nebraska. Cultivated since 1656.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are dull white, borne in 1.5-2.5" diameter, flat-topped cymes, in May-June, and then sporadically through the summer. Fruits are milky-white drupes, 0.33" diameter, borne in August-September. Fruits are prized by wildlife, but not edible for humans.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: Leaves are opposite, simple, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 2-5" long and 1-2.5" wide, acuminate-tipped, medium to dark green above, glaucous on the underside, with approximately 5 pairs of veins. Petiole is 0.5-1" long. Reddish, purplish, or reddish-purple fall color. Notable Bark: Bark on newer stems is bright red, blood red, or purplish-red for several years.

Culture and Care

Fibrous rooted, easily moved bare root, balled/burlapped or container grown. Best in moist soils, but widely adaptable to a wide range of soil and climates. Zones 2-7. Tolerates flooding, but not shade. Tolerates slightly acid to alkaline soils, pH 6.1-8.5. Occasional rejuvenation pruning to the ground in early March will help maintain the bright red stem color of the plant. Sensitive to air pollution and 2,4-D herbicide drift. Compaction tolerant. Susceptible to twig blight (canker), especially under hot, humid conditions. Leaf spot, scale and bagworms can also be problems.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Good wildlife value. 4-season interest: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter.

Suggested Uses

Excellent in mass plantings in large areas or as a bank cover. The colored stems can be used as a winter highlight in a smaller area. Effective bank cover, Great for winter gardening, especially when mixed or contrasted with various needle evergreens.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA

The following taxa are (or were) represented in the collections at Boone County Arboretum. Additional taxa may be available in the trade that are not included here.

  • Cornus sericea // Red-twig (Redosier) Dogwood ("straight species")
    Shrub.
    -- not currently in our collection --

  • Cornus sericea 'Baileyii' // Baileyii Red-twig (Redosier) Dogwood
    Shrub. Red stems and white to bluish fruits. Gets 6-9' tall and wide. Stems turn more brownish-red in winter. Growth habit is loose and rounded, or more spreading, like Cornus alba. Used for massing or as a specimen plant in the landscape.
    Bed 146

  • Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' // Cardinal Red-twig (Redosier) Dogwood
    Shrub.
    Bed 259

  • Cornus sericea 'Farrow' // Arctic Fire™ Redtwig Dogwood
    Shrub. 3-4' tall and wide, compact dwarf, with dense, dark red to bright red stems, which provide much winter color. May be more deer-resistant. Not as stoloniferous or spreading as the species. Good in containers, cutting gardens, native plant gardens, mass plantings, woodland gardens, as a small space specimen plant, in perennial borders or shrub borders, or use cut stems in floral arrangements and holiday arrangements. Needs full sun to part sun. Good fall color. Prefers a well-drained, moist soil. Tolerates clay. Prune one-third of the older branches/stems to the ground at the end of each winter to maintain the good red stem color.
    Bed 249 - Bed 258

  • Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' // Golden Yellow-twig (Redosier) Dogwood, Lutea
    Shrub. Bright yellow stems in full sun, or yellow-green in shady sites. This cultivar is slightly more compact than the straight species, getting only 5-6' tall and wide. First offered by Spath Nursery in Germany, who obtained it from the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts. Introduced around 1900. Zones 3-7. Canker and leaf spot diseases are often problems. Good in hedges or rain gardens. Good yellow/orange fall color, sometimes purplish. Also sometimes listed as Cornus sericea 'Lutea'.
    Bed 61 - Bed 156

  • Cornus sericea 'Silver and Gold' // Silver and Gold Redosier Dogwood
    Shrub. Yellow stems. Bold, variegated foliage; the 2-4" leaves have an irregular, creamy-white border around the margin, turning yellow in the fall. Slightly more compact than the straight-species. A suckering shrub that gets 5-7' tall and 6-8' wide. Prefers full sun to light shade. Brightest yellow stem color and best fall color is in full sun. Good used in hedges, naturalizing, and rain gardens. Tolerates clay and wet soil. Helps prevent erosion on slopes. Branch sport from 'Flaviramea', introduced 1987, Mt. Cuba Centre, in Delaware. Zone 3-7.
    Bed 64