Redosier dogwood

Quick facts

Redosier dogwoods are a highly versatile shrub for landscaping.
They are valuable in shoreline restoration and rain gardens due to their flood and wet soil tolerance.
Redosier dogwoods grow quickly to the height of 2 to 10 feet.
Birds and mammals are attracted to this shrub because they produce small berries midsummer.
It is important to practice renewal pruning: remove the oldest third of stems every 1–2 years to maintain vibrant color.
The recommended red-stem cultivars for Minnesota are ‘Alleman’s Compact’, ‘Cardinal’, Firedance™ (First Editions®), ‘Isanti’, and ‘Kelseyi’
The recommended yellow-stem cultivars for Minnesota are ‘Flaviramea’ and ‘Silver and Gold’.

A dogwood shrub in winter showing bare red stems surrounded by snow — Red winter stems of 'Cardinal'

(Cornus sericea) is a shrub native to Minnesota with colorful red or yellow winter bark that provides great winter interest.

As a landscape plant, redosier dogwood is extremely versatile.

It can be used as an accent, specimen or key plant, and in groups and large masses for borders and screens.

Redosier dogwood is also used in plantings for wildlife as its berries attract and are eaten by birds and mammals.

Because of its native status, soil adaptability and tolerance of flooding and wet soils, redosier dogwood is also used along shorelines and in rain gardens.

A dogwood shrub planted next to a bench that has green foliage and white flower clusters — 'Isanti' plant form

Description

Deciduous shrub
Height: 2 to 10 feet
Width: 2 to 10 feet
Fast growth rate
Broad, rounded, mounded form
Clusters of small, 4-petaled, white flowers in mid-May to June; second bloom occurs in July and August
Small, round, white to pale blue berries July through September
Fall foliage is red-purple

Growing redosier dogwood

A flower cluster consisting of numerous small white flowers — Flower cluster of 'Flaviramea'

Hardiness zone: 2 to 7
Sun to part shade
Adaptable to sandy, loam, or clay soils
Average to wet soil; drought tolerant
Adaptable to very poor to well-drained soils; soil compaction tolerant
Soil pH: 6.1 to 8.5; have your soil tested by the U of M Soil Testing Lab

Common problems

Salt sensitive
Suckers may need to be removed to maintain plant width

Visit What's wrong with my shrub? – Dogwood for a list of the most common pests in Minnesota.

A fruit cluster consisting of numerous small white round fruit with red fall leaves on Isanti dogwood — Fruit and fall color on ‘Isanti’ dogwood

Pruning to maintain color

In late summer, younger stems turn to red or yellow-green and color intensifies throughout winter.

The brightly-colored bark occurs on stems that are less than 3 years old, so renewal pruning should be a regular practice.

Remove the oldest third of stems down to the base of the plant every year or two to promote growth of the younger, colorful stems.

Visit Pruning trees and shrubs to learn more about the pruning process.

Yellow stems of redosier dogwood in fall after leaves have fallen — 'Flaviramea'

Cultivated varieties of redosier dogwood for Minnesota

Red stem varieties

'Alleman's Compact' - 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide, good fall color, compact form
'Cardinal' - 10 feet tall by 10 feet wide, good fall color; 1986 UMN introduction
First Editions® Firedance™ - 4 feet tall by 5 feet wide, good fall color, compact form
'Isanti' - 6 feet tall by 10 feet wide, good fall color, compact form, hardy to zone 2; 1971 UMN introduction
'Kelseyi' - 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide, compact form

Yellow stem varieties

'Flaviramea' - 8 feet tall by 10 feet wide, red-purple fall foliage
'Silver and Gold' - 8 feet tall by 10 feet wide, green and creamy white variegated foliage

Kathy Zuzek, former Extension educator; Beth Berlin, former Extension educator; and Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator

Reviewed in 2018