Allegan Conservation District

Red-osier dogwood

Scientific name: Cornus stolonifera or C. sericea
Height: 6-10’
Width: 6-10’
Growth rate: moderate
Habitat: Prefers wet to moist soils and full sun to part shade. Plant needs to be in full sun to have the characteristic bright red stems.

Red-osier dogwood is a multistemmed deciduous shrub with a round and spreading shape. Fall leaf color is variable, from dull to rich purple-red. Plants have flat clusters of small, dull white flowers that bloom from late May to early June. Small white to pale bluee fruits develop in August and September and will attract birds. The stems of the plant are reddish from late summer into fall, turn bright red during the winter and change to green at the beginning of spring. Periodically remove old stems to encourage growth of new, brighter colored stems. Plant has a stoloniferous habit, making it useful for soil stabilization projects. Red-oiser dogwood is also used in screen plantings, as a shrub border or in mass plantings or groupings.