Red-twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea

Courtesy James L. Reveal, Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center
Summary
This deciduous shrub is common along lakes, streams and ponds, and is happiest in a reliably moist area of your landscape. Tiny, fragrant, white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters in late spring, and give way to clusters of whitish/bluish drupes in summer. Reddish stems turn bright red in winter and are particularly showy against a snowy backdrop. It’s a top choice when considering options for winter interest, both for its colorful twigs and to provide food for birds.
More Details
FAMILY
Cornaceae (Dogwood)
BLOOM TIME
May-June
FLOWER
Dense, flat-topped clusters of showy white blossoms
MATURE SIZE
6-9 feet
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
Part sun to part shade
SOIL CONDITIONS
Adaptable to a wide range of soil and climate conditions.
NATIVE STATUS
PA Native
Ecosystem Connections
Dogwoods are larval food plants for several groups of butterflies and moths, including the spring azure, dogwood thyatirid, one-spotted variant, friendly probole, and false crocus geometer. The fruits are valuable to wildlife, eaten by many birds and mammals, and mammals browse on the leaves and twigs. The shrubs provide excellent cover for nesting songbirds.