Description

Red Osier Dogwood — Premium Description 

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)** is one of North America’s most striking native shrubs, prized for its vivid scarlet-red winter stems that ignite the landscape when everything else has gone dormant. This four‑season performer brings structure, color, and ecological value to any property — from modern landscapes to naturalized plantings.

Seasonal Interest

• Spring: Clusters of creamy white flowers attract early pollinators.
• Summer: Clean green foliage forms a dense, upright shrub with excellent presence.
• Fall: Leaves shift to deep burgundy and purple, often paired with white berry clusters loved by birds.
• Winter: Bare stems turn a brilliant fire‑red, creating one of the most dramatic winter silhouettes of any native shrub.

Growth Habit

• Mature size: 6–9 ft tall, 8–12 ft wide
• Fast‑growing, adaptable, and naturally multi‑stemmed
• Responds beautifully to pruning — cutting back older stems encourages the brightest red new growth

Ecological Value

• A powerhouse for wildlife: berries feed songbirds, flowers support pollinators, and dense branching provides shelter
• Excellent for stabilizing slopes, streambanks, and wet areas
• Thrives in moist soils but tolerates average garden conditions once established

Landscape Uses

• Winter color focal point
• Native hedgerows and privacy screens
• Rain gardens and wetland edges
• Naturalized woodland borders
• Mass plantings for dramatic red‑stem winter displays

Why Growers & Collectors Love It

Red Osier Dogwood is a true four‑season native, offering unmatched winter color and exceptional resilience. Whether used as a specimen or in groups, it brings a bold, architectural presence to the landscape — especially when snow or frost highlights its vivid stems.