Cornus sericea, Red-Osier Dogwood

 

Red Osier Dogwood in our large wetland.

It is so common to the conventional nursery trade (in red and yellow-green) that we may not think of it when planting native habitat. But it should be in every yard or garden large enough to support it. It will do well in a wetland edge setting, large rain garden or even in average yard and garden soil. Red Osier is quite adaptable to different soil conditions. 

It also supports wild life with flowers, berries, and leaves. Pollinators love the summer flowers, birds and some mammals eat the white berries, and there are a few caterpillars that feed on dogwood leaves. And for the humans in your life -as they darken with age, you can prune the branches every few years to create new red stems.

Blooms: creamy white, June into August

Height: 5 to 7 feet

Conditions: sun to pt sun, moist to medium soil