Plant Type

Shrub

 

Height Range

6-12'

 

Flower Color

White

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green, Light Green

 

Bark Color

Red

 

Fruit Color

White

 

Fruit Season

Winter, Fall

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained, Moist

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Japanese, Meadow, Seascape, Wetlands, Native Garden, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Multi-trunk Tree, Showy Flowers, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Filler, Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting, Naturalizing

 

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Butterflies, Wildlife

Red osier dogwood is a deciduous shrub that adds needed color to the winter landscape. Upright to rounded form, growing 6 to 9 feet tall and wide, its new wood is bright red, creating a fabulous accent any time of year. Leaves are a medium green, turning a reddish purple in fall. Creamy white flowers occur in spring and contrast attractively with burgundy colored young twigs. Flowers are followed by white fruit. Attracts birds and butterflies. A good choice in a landscape that borders one of our riparian corridors...there are some planted at the 900 South Wetland.

Grow in sun to part shade in organic-rich soils that are well drained, though it will tolerate nearly boggy conditions. Best red stem color occurs on young stems, so though not necessary, some gardeners choose to remove 20-25% of the oldest stems in early spring of each year to stimulate growth of new stems. As an alternative to annual pruning, some gardeners prune all stems close to the ground in early spring every 2-3 years to renew. Any loss of flowers through spring pruning is not terribly significant since the small flowers of this dogwood are rather ordinary. Formerly listed as C. stolonifera.