Scientific Name:
Cornus sericea
Pronunciation:
KORE-nus sur-ISS-ee-uh
Common Name:
red osier dogwood
Family Name:
Cornaceae
Plant Type:
Shrub - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Multi-trunked, deciduous shrub 1.5-5m tall; leaves opposite, ovate, 4-12cm long x 2-6cm wide, 5-7 prominent parallel veins arise off the midrib and curve towards the apex and converge, margins slightly undulating with red petioles, heavily veined, major veins off midrib +/- parallel and curved towards apex; forets with 4 white petals, in corymb-like cymes 2-4cm wide; drupes 7-9mm long with a flattened pyrene. Winter ID: new bark smooth, deep red; buds opposite, cylindrical, about 13mm long, stalked, appressed, slightly pubescent, valvate; terminal flower bud is onion shaped.
Habit:
Dense, Spreading, Upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
2 - 3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast (Naturalized In BC)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Bog, Well-drained
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Filler, Group or mass planting, Hedge row, Winter interest
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown or on campus may include C. ‘Isanti', C. 'Baileyi', C. ‘Flaviramea’, and C. 'Silver and Gold'. Compare to blood twig dogwood.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Orange, Red
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Acute, Rounded
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Floriferous, Corymb-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Cruciform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
White
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Drupe, Edible
Fruit Colour:
White
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Edible
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Red, Tan
Leaf Bud Type:
Stalked, Valvate
Leaf Scar Shape:
V-shaped
Organ Modifications:
Runners (or stolons)
Propagation:
Seed, Cuttings, Layering
Pest Susceptibility:
Anthracnose, Fungal leaf spot (Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1155
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend : cv. Silver and Gold
- (BHE) Boulevard by Hwy. 10 Eastend
- (FEA) Field lab Equipment Area : next to alpine currant
- (FSC) Far South Campus
- (JPL) Juglans PLanting : 159 cv. Baileyi
- (NRY) NuRserY : cv. Isanti
- (ONW) Overpass North side West : cvs. Flaviramea, Silver and Gold
- (TFL) Turf Field Lab
- (TFLS) Turf Field Lab South