Red Osier Dogwood

Overview & Description

The Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a medium-sized, multi-stemmed native shrub known for its vigorous, suckering habit that forms dense thickets. Its most striking feature is the smooth, bright red bark on young twigs, which provides vibrant winter colour. In late spring to early summer, flat-topped clusters of small, creamy-white flowers appear. These are followed by ornamental clusters of white to pale blue berries that birds love. The pointed, opposite leaves have prominent, arcuate veins, are dark green above and paler below, turning brilliant red to orange to purple in fall.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits a fast-growing, upright-spreading form. It typically reaches a mature size of about 6 to 12 feet in height with a similar or slightly wider spread of 7 to 10 feet.

Additional Notes

It blooms from May to June. Exceptionally hardy to Zone 2, it is highly adaptable and thrives in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including wet conditions, standing water, and salt, making it ideal for erosion control, rain gardens, and naturalized areas. It is rarely browsed by deer and supports pollinators and birds. Best stem colour develops in full sun; prune in early spring.