Redosier Dogwood

Bottom Line Up Front:

This is one of those native shrubs that I have actually been able to find in the normal plant retailers alongside the normal brought-here-from-another-continent plants. It is commonly purchased for its winter interest, but it also can feed up to 53 different species of lepidopterans (caterpillars A.K.A bird food).

Scientific Name: Cornus sericea

Characteristics: This suckering shrub is a perfect and easy addition to the background especially if you live somewhere where you may get snow or have a gray winter. It is great in masses and if you have streambanks it is an easy addition there as well since it does well in both wet and normal conditions. It can also withstand pruning and it will resprout no problem!

Size: 6-9ft tall and 7-10ft wide

Description: Redosier Dogwood; where does your Dogwood is one of my favorite winter plants. It has one of the most vibrant stick twig colors you will ever see. Don’t confuse this native variety with the non native Asian rhetoric Dogwood which is commonly sold in commercial stores. The red twig Dogwood is native to North America and is a common edge of moist areas or wetland plant.

The new growth of twigs is a bright vibrant red and though it is bought for its winter stick color, I enjoy this shrub for its Four Seasons of interest. In the spring it has very bright green leaves that contrast with the red fading color from the twigs. In the summer it has beautiful darker foliage and an nice vase like form. The flowers are white and in the fall are followed by small fruits which are easily consumed by hungry birds before they migrate.

This species does great as a background plant especially if it has a nice white or light colored house or fence to contrast against. But it’s also a great mass shrub which will fill areas and provide beautiful and useful cover for birds in the winter and in the summer when they can be seen hopping amongst its branches hunting for caterpillars.

Red twig Dogwood is a host for over 50 species of butterflies and moths including the very beautiful spring Azure butterfly. Although with 50 different species of butterflies and moths that the leaves feed you will see lots of different bird species hunting amongst its branches. Overall this is a very versatile shrub and just like many of its counterparts it can be trimmed whenever you need a new flush of vibrant red twigs.