Red Osier DogwoodCornus sericea
a.k.a. Red-twig Dogwood
Tolerates wet soils, attracts birds & pollinators, winter interest. Many-stemmed, erect, deciduous shrub 6-12' tall, forming thickets. Used for restorations, buffers, screens, erosion control, stream bank stabilization and landscaping. It will work well in rain gardens and other water-fluctuation situations. It provides habitat for wildlife and beauty to landscapes. There are many cultivars and varieties. It may invade sedge meadows, prairies, and calcareous fens as water levels change. When deer numbers are high, this species is reduced in size and abundance.
USDA symbol: COSE16
General Information
| Plant Type | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 to 12 feet |
| Light Exposure | Part Sun, Shade, Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Dry, Medium, Wet |
| Bloom Color | White |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 10 |
| Salt Tolerance | Low |
| Stress Tolerance | Alkaline Conditions, Drought Tolerant, General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: Very High
| Bloom Months | May to June |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Bees, Moths |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Numerous bee species; Acleris cornana |
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Generalists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Erosion Control, Rain Garden, Restoration, Sandy or Engineered Soils, Shoreline Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 4 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Deep |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Clonal |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Rice, Roseau, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |