Red-twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea

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.

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