Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea

The Red Osier Dogwood is a shrub with bright red stems that stand out in winter. It has clusters of white flowers in spring and berries that birds love to eat.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Red Osier Dogwood is a multi-stemmed shrub known for its striking bright red stems, especially vibrant in winter. It has opposite green leaves, small white flower clusters in spring, and white berries in late summer, with fall foliage turning reddish-purple.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCornalesFamilyCornaceaeGenusCornus

Red Osier Dogwood

Interesting facts

Even its branches, stripped of bark, were once smoked in ceremonial pipes by some Indigenous groups.

Its name 'osier' comes from willow-like branches used for weaving baskets long ago.

Some Native American tribes traditionally used its bark to make a crimson-red dye for crafts.

The red color in its stems gets brighter and more intense when the weather gets colder!

Special abilities

Red Osier Dogwood has vivid red stems that perform photosynthesis in winter, helping it absorb sunlight and survive cold temperatures.

Red Osier Dogwood can spread by rhizomes, forming dense thickets that effectively stabilize soil, especially near water.

Red Osier Dogwood has white berries that provide a crucial food source for many bird species, aiding its seed dispersal.

Measurements & details

Height: 150-300 cm
Spread: 150-300 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Late spring to early summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Eats the shrub's white berries

eaten by

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

Feeds on its small white fruits

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Visits its flowers for nectar

eats

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Browses on its twigs and leaves

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Winter Interest

Winter Interest refers to plants that provide aesthetic appeal through their foliage, bark, berries, or structure during the winter season.

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.