# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 26 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** American Dogwood, Red Willow, Swamp Dogwood ![Red Osier Dogwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Red_Osier_Dogwood.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sulfur at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Osier_Dogwood.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Cornales - **Family:** Cornaceae - **Genus:** Cornus ## 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 - **Winter Fire:** Red Osier Dogwood has vivid red stems that perform photosynthesis in winter, helping it absorb sunlight and survive cold temperatures. - **Soil Anchor:** Red Osier Dogwood can spread by rhizomes, forming dense thickets that effectively stabilize soil, especially near water. - **Bird Buffet:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats the shrub's white berries - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its twigs and leaves ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Winter Interest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/winter-interest): Winter Interest refers to plants that provide aesthetic appeal through their foliage, bark, berries, or structure during the winter season. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) - [Shrubs](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/shrubs) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy looking at the Red Osier Dogwood from a safe distance. Avoid touching or eating any part of the plant. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Osier Dogwood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Red Osier Dogwood? 150-300 cm ### How wide does Red Osier Dogwood spread? 150-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Red Osier Dogwood? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Red Osier Dogwood bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Red Osier Dogwood edible? No ### Is Red Osier Dogwood toxic? Mild ### What is Red Osier Dogwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Chenango Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-canal) — New York, US · Historic Site - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Fairhaven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairhaven) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Illinois Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-street-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Kal-Haven Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kal-haven-trail) — Michigan, US · Trail - [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-tahoe-basin-management-unit) — Nevada, US · Forest [View all places to see Red Osier Dogwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-osier-dogwood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Red Osier Dogwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-osier-dogwood)