Redtwig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Brilliant crimson stems light up the winter garden against snow or gray sky. White spring flowers, then summer berries for 40-plus bird species.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Sep 248 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Sep 258 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Sep 268 AM – 2 PM
The most dramatic winter garden shrub we carry. those scarlet stems glow against snow and ice and get better with every hard cutback.
Redtwig dogwood turns the winter garden into something genuinely alive. When the leaves drop in November, a thicket of brilliant crimson stems lights up against snow or gray sky in a way that feels almost unnatural for a plant that needs zero care to achieve it. The newest growth carries the reddest color, which is exactly why a hard cutback every spring keeps the display at its best. Spring brings flat-topped clusters of small white flowers worked by native bees and butterflies. White summer berries follow, eaten eagerly by at least 40 bird species. The foliage turns red-purple in fall before dropping to reveal those brilliant stems again. Few shrubs deliver this level of four-season interest with this level of toughness.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown redtwig dogwood propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 5–8 ft · 6–10 ft wide
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 2–8
- Family
- Cornaceae
- Native range
- Northern and Eastern North America
Care notes for redtwig dogwood.
Full sun to part shade in moist to wet soil. Tolerates flooding and clay. Cut down to 12 inches every 2–3 years in early spring to promote the most vivid red stem color on new growth. old stems turn grayish. Spreads by root suckers; excellent for massing and erosion control. Deer will browse but plants recover quickly.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside redtwig dogwood.
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