Cornus sericea
$43.99
A vigorous wet-site shrub with white summer flowers, pale drupes, colorful fall foliage, and vivid red winter stems.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Cornus sericea is a vigorous, multistemmed deciduous shrub with an upright-spreading, suckering habit. Its smooth young stems turn bright red to dark blood-red for winter interest, while the green leaves develop orange, red, and purple fall color.
Small white to cream flowers are carried in cymes from June through August. White drupes with a blue tinge follow in late summer and can persist through fall, with some remaining into winter; they support birds and small mammals.
Plant red-osier dogwood in full sun or partial shade in organically rich soil that remains consistently moist. It tolerates clay, wet ground, and periodic shallow inundation, making it useful in rain gardens, on streambanks, and for erosion control. Remove 20% to 25% of the oldest stems at ground level in early spring to renew the strongest stem color.
Additional information
| Height | 180 cm – 270 cm |
|---|---|
| Spread | 210 cm – 300 cm |
| Flowering months | June, July, August |
| Synonyms | Cornus sericea subsp. sericea, Cornus stolonifera, Cornus stolonifera var. californica, Swida sericea |
| Family | Cornaceae |
| Propagation | Propagate by seed, root cuttings, stem cuttings, division, French layering, or hardwood cuttings. |
| Pests | Borers, leaf miners, scale, and bagworms may occur. |
| Diseases | Powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot, and leaf or twig blight may occur. |
| Pruning | In early spring, remove 20% to 25% of the oldest stems at ground level to renew stem color. Root-prune only where unwanted spread must be controlled. |
| Hazardous | unknown |
| Variegated | unknown |
| Watering instructions | Keep the soil consistently moist. The species tolerates seasonally saturated ground and periodic shallow inundation. |
| Sunlight instructions | Plant in full sun or partial shade. |
| Color flower summer | White, Cream |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Moisture | Moist but Well Drained, Wet or Damp Soil |
| Ph | Alkaline, Neutral |
| Position | Full sun, Light shade |
| Scent | Fragrant |
| Shape | Round, Spreading |
| Suggest planting location | Banks and slopes, Hedges and screening plants, Wildlife friendly gardens, Rain Garden, Streamside |
| Type | Shrub |
| Use for | Hedge, Butterfly-Friendly, Screen, Windbreak, Pollinator-Friendly |
| Drought resistance | no |
| Soil | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Local names | Red-Osier Dogwood, Red-Twig Dogwood, Redstem Dogwood, American Dogwood |
| Blomidon Item No | MO23002626, CORSE0003G, CORST0003G |
| Usps | Bright red young stems provide strong winter color., Useful for rain gardens, wet banks, erosion control, hedges, and wildlife habitat. |
| Common Name | Red Osier Dogwood |