Red osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Aquatic plants
Whole plant · Photo: Andre Hosper / CC BY
Also called Cornus stolonifera, Creek dogwood, Red twig dogwood
How to identify Red osier dogwood
- Shrub 4 to 10 feet with bright red stems, most visible in winter
- Opposite leaves with veins that curve toward the tip
- Flat clusters of small white flowers
- White berries in late summer
Similar plants
Willows have alternate leaves and catkins; red stemmed willows lack the curved leaf veins and white berries.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Leafs out April and May, flowers May and June, berries ripen in late summer, and red stems stand out after leaf drop. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | Early spring |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Depth | Moist banks; tolerates flooded roots |
| How it spreads | Seeds, suckers and stems that root where they touch the ground |
| Habitat | Streambanks, pond edges, springs and wet meadows. |
Why it matters in a lake
One of the best native shrubs for planting pond banks. Its roots hold soil, the berries feed birds, and it is easy to start from cuttings.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Cornales |
| Family | Cornaceae |
| Scientific name | Cornus sericea |
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Poison hemlockNeed a hand?
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