Cornus sericea

(Red Twig Dogwood)


Size Price
7-GALLON $59.99

Hardiness Zones:

 3a  3b  4a  4b  5a  5b  6a  6b  7a  7b  8a  8b

Quick Overview:

Cornus sericea, commonly known as red twig dogwood or red osier dogwood, is an upright-spreading, suckering shrub that typically grows in the absence of pruning to 6-9’ tall with a slightly larger spread. With the exception of the lower midwest and deep South, this species is native to much of North America where it is typically found growing in wet swampy areas, wetland margins or along lakes and rivers.  Medium to dark green leaves (2-5” long) acquire interesting shades of red to orange eventually fading to purple in autumn. Reddish stems turn bright red in winter and are particularly showy against a snowy backdrop. Tiny, fragrant, white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters (cymes to 2.5” diameter) in late spring, with sparse, intermittent, additional flowering sometimes continuing into summer. Flowers give way to clusters of whitish (sometimes with a bluish tinge) drupes in summer. Fruit is quite attractive to birds and is generally considered to have as much if not more ornamental interest than the flowers.  (Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder)

SKU: N/A

Description

Best grown in organically rich, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, including swampy or boggy conditions. Prefers consistently moist, well-drained soils. Best red stem color occurs on young stems. Although pruning is not required, many gardeners choose to remove 20-25% of the oldest stems in early spring of each year to stimulate growth of new stems which will display the best color. As an alternative to annual pruning, some gardeners prune all stems close to the ground in early spring every 2-3 years to renew.  (Courtesy of Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder)

Additional information

Common Name

Red Twig Dogwood

Botanical Name

Cornus sericea

Evergreen or Deciduous

Deciduous

Hardiness Zone

3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Growth Rate

Average

Light Requirements

Part-sun, Sun

Height

6 to 9'

Width

8 to 12'

Soil Condition

Average to Wet Soils

Water Needs

Average

Blooming Period

April- May

Flower Color

white

Fragrance

No

Foliage Color

green

Deer Resistant

Yes

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