Rain Garden Plants: Red Twig Dogwood

Red twig dogwood is a large, multistemmed deciduous shrub. It has vibrant red stems that provide winter interest. Flat-topped, creamy white flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. Umbrella-shaped clusters of white berries are borne in late summer and persist into autumn. Dark-green, lance-shaped leaves have pronounced veins and appear somewhat wrinkled. Leaf color ranges from gold-orange to reddish-purple in autumn. Tolerates a wide range of growing conditions but prefers organically rich and consistently moist soil. Can be pruned back in springtime to stimulate new growth. Spreading roots help control erosion. Host for spring azure butterfly caterpillar and supports songbirds, pollinators, and other wildlife. It is rarely browsed by deer.

• Height: 6 to 12 feet
• Bloom color: White
• Bloom time: May to June
• Hardiness zone: 2 to 7
• Salt tolerance: Tolerant of salt spray
• Spreading habit: Colonizes; trim roots with a spade and remove root suckers to prevent spread

Site Conditions

• Sun: Sun/partial shade
• Soil: Organically rich, fertile, consistently moist; circumneutral, pH 6.8 to 7.2
• Hydrologic zone: Wet/moist

Sources

Cornell University, Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Missouri Botanical Garden, Plant Finder (search)

NC State Extension, North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Connie Schmotzer, Jessica Chou, and Beth Yount. Reviewed by Sandra Feather and Scott Sjolander. Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio.