Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Red osier dogwood is a fast-growing native shrub grown for its bright red winter stems. It has white flowers in late spring and white berries in late summer, and it handles wet soil. It's a cold-climate plant that can struggle in hot summers.
At a Glance
| Plant type | Deciduous shrub |
|---|---|
| Family | Dogwood family (Cornaceae) |
| Other names | Red twig dogwood, redosier, red-stem dogwood. Also listed as Cornus stolonifera. |
| Native range | Most of North America |
| Mature height | 6 to 9 feet |
| Mature spread | 5 to 10 feet, and wider over time as it spreads by underground stems |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Flowers | Flat clusters of small creamy-white flowers, mid-May to June, sometimes with a smaller second bloom in summer |
| Fruit or seed | Small white to pale blue berries, July to September |
| Foliage | Opposite leaves 2 to 5 inches long. Fall color is orange to red, fading to purple. |
Growing Conditions
| USDA hardiness zones | 2 to 7 |
|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun to part shade. It can be stressed by full sun in hot summers. |
| Soil | Most soils, including wet soil and heavy clay. Best in rich, consistently moist soil. |
| Soil pH | 6.1 to 8.5 |
| Water | Medium to high. Average to wet soil, and it tolerates flooding. |
| Tolerates | Wet soil, flooding, clay, compacted soil, erosion, deer |
| Does poorly with | Heat and full sun in hot summers, road salt |
Will It Grow Here?
In parts of our area. Red Osier Dogwood is hardy in zones 2 to 7. Find your zone in the table below.
| Zone | Grows here? | Towns in this zone |
|---|---|---|
| 6b (our farm) | Yes | Lebanon, MO; Bolivar, MO; Iola, KS; Garnett, KS |
| 7a | Yes | Springfield, MO; Joplin, MO; Fayetteville, AR; Bentonville, AR |
| 7b | Yes | Harrison, AR; Tulsa, OK; Broken Arrow, OK; Tahlequah, OK |
| 8a | No, too warm | Van Buren, AR; Alma, AR |
Not sure which zone you're in? Look up your ZIP code on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (opens in a new tab).
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Missouri zone map (full size, opens in a new tab)
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Arkansas zone map (full size, opens in a new tab)
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Oklahoma zone map (full size, opens in a new tab)
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Kansas zone map (full size, opens in a new tab)
Official 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Maps. Tap a map to open it full size.
Maps: USDA Agricultural Research Service, with mapping by the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
Plant Patent
Not patented. This is the straight species, not a named variety, so there are no restrictions on growing it from seed or cuttings.
About the Red Osier Dogwood
Red osier dogwood is a native shrub found across most of North America, often in wet, swampy places. It’s grown mostly for its bright red stems, which stand out in winter after the leaves drop. The color is brightest on young stems. It also has flat clusters of white flowers in late spring and small white berries in late summer.
This is a cold-climate shrub, hardy through zone 7. It’s stressed by full sun in hot summers, which makes it more prone to disease, so it may struggle in the warmest parts of our area.
Choosing a Spot
- Sun or part shade. Full sun to part shade. Full sun in hot summers stresses it, so some shade can help here.
- Wet spots are fine. It tolerates wet soil, flooding, and heavy clay, and does best in rich, consistently moist soil.
- Room to spread. It spreads by underground stems and can form a colony. You can limit the spread by cutting around it with a spade to sever the runners.
- Away from road salt. It’s sensitive to salt.
Planting
- Dig wide, not deep. Make the hole at least 1 1/2 to 2 times as wide as the root ball and only as deep. In poorly drained or compacted soil, make it 3 to 4 times as wide and not quite as deep.
- Set the top of the root ball even with the surrounding soil or slightly above. Planting even 3 inches too deep lets water collect around the roots.
- Slice circling roots. If roots circle the outside of the root ball, make three or four cuts an inch or two deep from top to bottom.
- Backfill with the soil you dug out. Amendments usually aren’t needed.
- Skip fertilizer at planting, and water right away.
Watering
New plants establish fastest with light, frequent watering. In summer a new shrub may need water several times a week. Overwatering kills as easily as drought, so feel the soil before you water. Once established, it does best in consistently moist soil, though one source lists it as drought tolerant.
Mulch and Fertilizer
Spread organic mulch no more than 3 inches deep after it settles, and keep it off the stems. Fertilize only if a soil test calls for it.
Pruning
Prune in early spring. Every year or two, cut the oldest third of the stems down to the base. New stems have the brightest red color, and this renewal pruning helps prevent canker and borers. Remove suckers if you want to keep it from spreading.
Common Problems
- Stem canker: The most serious problem. Keeping the plant vigorous with regular renewal pruning helps prevent it.
- Stress diseases: Stressed plants can get powdery mildew, leaf spot, root rot, and leaf and twig blight.
- Insects: Borers, leaf miners, scale, and bagworms.
- Dogwood anthracnose: Red osier isn’t susceptible.
Good for Wildlife
Birds and small mammals eat the berries, and the shrub provides nesting sites. It’s a host plant for the spring azure butterfly and supports several specialist bees.
Availability
Currently out of stock until Spring 2027.
Our nursery stock changes through the season. Contact us to check what we have on hand, current sizes, and pricing.
Sources
Growing information on this page was checked against these public references:
- Cornus sericea (North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox) (opens in a new tab)
- Redosier dogwood (University of Minnesota Extension) (opens in a new tab)
- Cornus sericea (University of Illinois Woody Plants Database) (opens in a new tab)
- Planting a Tree or a Shrub, FSA-6128 (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension) (opens in a new tab)
Disclaimer: The information on this page is based on publicly available knowledge and research. Individual results may vary.