![]() ![]() Prune out 1/3 of the older branches to encourage growth of the younger branches which have the brightest red colors. Can be but pruned in late winter to maintain a desired shape and size. Red Twig Dogwood can grow to a height of 8 feet with a similar spread. Nothing is prettier than the bright red twigs peeking out from the white snow. Plant bushes where they can be viewed from a window during the winter months. Despite bearing spring blossoms, variegated leaves in summer, and berries from summer to fall, the main reason people grow Red Twig Dogwood is for the bush’s stand out bright red twigs, which are brightest in winter. Flowers are white flat clusters that bloom on old wood so heavily pruned bushes may not see blooms or the berries which follow the blooms. Its smooth, pointed leaves are medium green,turning purplish red in fall. Older branches can be pruned back to stimulate increased production of colorful young stems. Young branches are smooth and attractively colored in red while older branches are less colorful. Also known as Red-osier Dogwood, it gets its name from its purplish red stems and its former use in making wicker baskets (Osier is French for “wicker”). Pests/Diseases: Can be susceptible to a variety of fungal diseases but they are typically minor.Red Twig Dogwood ( Cornus sericea) is a deciduous perennial shrub loved for its showy red bark in the winter allowing for year round interest. Forms a thicket by spreading along the ground, so allow plenty of space. (That being said, it is also known to be tolerant of drier to more normal garden moisture conditions, especially if given some shade.)įor optimal red twig color, prune out old wood in early spring to encourage fresh growth. Much prefers moist to wet conditions, can tolerate seasonal flooding. Leaves turn red in the fall, bare red branches providing colorful contrast in winter.Ĭulture: Full sun to shade (performs better with at least some sun). Opposite, oval/ovate leaves clusters of small white flowers, followed by white to bluish berries favored by birds. Native Range: Low to mid-elevations throughout most of North America, along streams, in floodplains and boggy areas, moist to wet woodlands.Ĭharacteristics: Multi-stemmed shrub 3-15’ tall and wide, spreading by horizontal branches at the base rooting at points of contact with the ground thicket-forming, with newest branches the bright red that is its main feature. ![]() Photo by Greg RabournĬommon: Red Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood If you don’t want it to spread as readily, keep it in a partially shady spot with more “normal” garden water and prune out the rooting horizontal branches. It also provides a quickly-established hedgerow and potential screening plant. This ability, along with its berries, make it an excellent habitat plant for birds, providing both food and shelter. Horizontal stems at the base of the plant root when nodes come into contact with the ground, and form a thicket. ![]() Mid-spring to summer finds this shrub in bloom – frothy white clusters of tiny flowers ride the ends of the branches, giving way to white or bluish white berry-like fruits that are not particularly appetizing to the human palate, but that will draw birds to your garden in numbers, and are also a striking contrast to the stems and the foliage – which in the fall, turns various shades of red to red-orange, making it a blaze of color. The outstanding red winter stem color that gives this plant its name and distinct beauty is only one, albeit the most dramatic, of its virtues it is, in fact, a plant with four-season interest and great wildlife value. stolonifera, our native Red Osier or Red Twig Dogwood is one of our most beautiful shrubs and is ideal for the wetter parts of your garden.
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