Cornus sericea (Red-Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood)
Cornus sericea (Red-Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood)
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Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) expresses the viable seed content of a seed lot using its purity and germination or viability test results. It helps you compare seed lots and calculate how much bulk seed is needed to meet a specified PLS planting rate.
PLS weight and bag weight
PLS weight is not the same as the total weight of seed in a bag. For example, a lot with 80% purity and 75% viability contains 60% PLS: 80 × 75 ÷ 100 = 60. Supplying 10 lb PLS from that lot requires about 16.67 lb of bulk seed.
Use the current seed test and the stated basis of the mix specification. Germination calculations may include applicable hard or dormant seed. Seed-count estimates also require the number of seeds per pound; PLS alone does not provide a seed count.
What to check when buying a mix
Check whether each rate is stated in PLS pounds, bulk pounds, or a combination. A mix with both bases should not be described as having an all-PLS total.
PLS does not remove weed seeds or guarantee establishment. Review the seed label and analysis for weed content, and match site preparation, planting conditions and follow-up management to your project.
Sources: USDA NRCS, Understanding Pure Live Seed and The Importance of Seed Quality for Natural Resource Conservation.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Red-Twig Dogwood is most conspicuous in winter, when its red stems remain visible after the leaves fall. White flower clusters appear in late spring to early summer, followed by pale fruit used by birds. The foliage develops red to purple tones in autumn. This is a substantial shrub, commonly reaching about 7 to 9 feet tall, rather than a compact edging plant.
It is well suited to moist ground along wetland margins and stream corridors, where spreading stems can form colonies. Allow space for that growth when using it beside a path or in a mixed planting. It grows in sun or partial shade. Cornus stolonifera is an older botanical name for this species.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Moist |
| Height | 3-9 ft |
| Bloom season | Late spring to early summer; sometimes later in the year |
Native landscape companions
For full sun and moist soil, consider these native plants alongside Cornus sericea:
| Companion plant | Height |
|---|---|
| Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) | About 4-10 ft |
| Dark-green Bulrush (Scirpus atrovirens) | About 2½–4 ft |
| Queen of the Prairie (Filipendula rubra) | About 3-6 ft |
| Rose Milkweed / Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) | 2-6 ft |
These landscape suggestions combine overlapping growing needs with documented plant associations. Match soil, seasonal wetness and mature spread to your site. Remnant records are described separately under Plant communities & associates.
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Fast-developing shrub spreading through runners into thickets |
|---|---|
| Root form | Shallow, branched woody roots; underground runners and aboveground stolons |
| Soil pH | Reported pH 5.5–8.5 (northeastern Illinois guide); not an established optimum. |
| Cultivation hardiness zones | Zones 2a–7b (general cultivation guidance) |
| Deer browsing | Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible. |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Cornus sericea |
|---|---|
| Other common names | red sticks; American Dogwood; Creek Dogwood; Red-osier Dogwood; Redstem Dogwood; Red-Twig Dogwood; Redtwig Dogwood; Silky Dogwood; Western Dogwood |
| Plant family | Cornaceae |
Plant characteristics
Cornus stolonifera (sericia) (Red-Twig Dogwood) is a medium-sized deciduous shrub found in moist lowland areas but can grow fine in normal soil conditions. Red twigs give distinct winter appeal. White flowers give way to berry-like drupes that change from white to blue as they ripen in late summer; attractive to birds.
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Other documented plant associations
These published associations show how this plant fits into natural vegetation. The region and community are identified for each list; moisture, shade and flooding can differ within a community.
Shrub layer
Across differing habitats in the tamarack range
Wetland with aspen canopy, dogwood shrubs and sedge–bluejoint ground layer
Mullin Tract, Wellington County, Ontario; historical prefire study
Other regional plant communities
These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.
- Willow and dogwood shrubland (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and Manitoba): Salix discolor.
- Shrub-carr around lakes and ponds (Wisconsin, south of the tension zone): Salix discolor.
- Bottomland forest understory (Central Forest Region): Acer saccharinum.
- Riparian forests (Central United States and Canada): Crataegus spp., Acer saccharinum, Ulmus americana.
- Moist forests and wooded wetlands (Eastern United States and Canada): Abies balsamea, Picea mariana, Larix laricina, Populus grandidentata, Populus tremuloides, Thuja occidentalis, Fraxinus nigra, Ulmus americana, Acer rubrum.
- Riparian shrub and grass communities (Western North America; account synthesis): Elymus canadensis.
- Spruce and mixed-conifer understory (Boreal North America): Eurybia macrophylla.
- White-cedar swamps on richer sites (Northern North America): Thuja occidentalis.
Spring Bay Fen Nature Preserve — tall shrub fen
Surveyed in 2007, 2008 and 2011. Tall shrub fen on Lena muck, recorded separately from the adjoining forest and filled upland. These dated records do not establish presence today.
Other native plants recorded in this surveyed community: Acer saccharinum, Amorpha fruticosa, Asclepias incarnata, Blephilia hirsuta, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, Caltha palustris, Carex hystericina, Carex stipata, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Chelone glabra.
Murphy, Phillippe & Ebinger 2021, Appendix 1. Selected associates from the same community; records do not show immediate neighbors or prescribe planting ratios.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
State nativity describes a broad range. Use the Chicago-region assessment for local context; a state listing does not establish county nativity.
| Wetland indicator — Corps Chicago 2017 table | FACW |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 5 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Alaska; Arizona; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Idaho; Illinois; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Dakota; Ohio; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects
This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.
Butterflies & skippers
- Celastrina ladon — Spring Azure
- Celastrina lucia — Lucia Azure
- Celastrina neglecta — Summer Azure
Moths
- Acleris ptychogrammos
- Acronicta funeralis — Funerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Anavitrinella pampinaria — Common Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Antispila aurirubra — Western Dogwood Leaf Miner
- Aphelia alleniana — Wide-Striped Leaf Roller, Allen's Tortrix
- Archips argyrospila — Fruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips fuscocupreanus — Exotic Leafroller Moth, ?Asian Leafroller (listed as introduced in the source)
- Archips rosana — Rose Tortrix, European Leafroller, Filbert Leafroller (listed as introduced in the source)
- Aseptis binotata
- Campaea perlata — Pale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Egira crucialis
- Euchlaena tigrinaria — Motted Euchlaena
- Eulithis xylina — The Phoenix
- Eupithecia miserulata — Common Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Euthyatira lorata
- Euthyatira pudens — Dogwood Thyatirid
- Hydrelia albifera — Fragile White Carpet
- Hypena bijugalis — Dimorphic Bomolocha, Dimorphic Snout
- Lithophane georgii — Fireworm, George's Pinion
- Olethreutes punctanum — Punctuated Olethreutes
- Orthosia hibisci — Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Pandemis pyrusana — Pandemis Leafroller
Other insect & wildlife relationships
Caterpillars this plant can feed
Spring Azure.
- Fruit and shelter: Birds and small mammals use the fruits, and the shrubs offer nesting sites.
Additional published species records; Illinois insect occurrence is not established by this account. These records do not guarantee that every insect occurs at your planting site.
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Red-Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood?
Light: Full sun to light shade. Soil moisture: Moist.
Is Red-Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood deer and herbivore resistant?
Deer resistance reported in cultivation guidance; browsing remains possible. Even plants described as resistant may be browsed. Use physical protection where deer damage is a concern.
When should I expect Red-Twig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood to bloom?
Typical flowering period: Late spring to early summer; sometimes later in the year. Timing varies with location and weather.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Landscape companion selection: Natural Communities compared the growing requirements shown on these species pages with selected source records: Tall shrub fen — Illinois River valley. The shortlist is a planting-design inference. A shared record does not establish adjacency, identical soil requirements, local seed origin, or a tested planting combination. Regional synthesis records retain their documented focal-to-associate scope.
Native range & ecological ratings: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), via Universal FQA; Kew WCVP / Plants of the World Online; USACE Chicago FQA (2017).
Growing conditions & other references: Illinois Wildflowers, John Hilty; USDA NRCS northeastern Illinois guide (2004); USDA Forest Service: carstr; USDA Forest Service: tamarack; USDA Forest Service: Acer saccharinum; USDA Forest Service: Cornus sericea; USDA Forest Service: Elymus canadensis; USDA Forest Service: Eurybia macrophylla; USDA Forest Service: Salix discolor; USDA Forest Service: Thuja occidentalis; Patrick Goggin: Wisconsin native plant guide, p. 75; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox.
Wildlife records: Shropshire & Tallamy: caterpillar hosts (2025).
Native range does not identify the origin of the seed or plants offered. Community and wildlife records apply to the locations and conditions described.
Research notes & credits
Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.
Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.
USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
Caterpillar research records
Plant: Cornus sericea
Record scope: Host literature synthesis; no county nativity or local insect occurrence inferred.
Shropshire & Tallamy (2025) · Original research dataset · Reuse license: ODbL-1.0
| Plant names in the source | Source insect record IDs |
|---|---|
| Cornus sericea | 200300, 200834, 201195, 201287, 202557, 202558, 205673, 207054, 207170 |
| Cornus sericea; Cornus stolonifera | 201074, 205672 |
| Cornus stolonifera | 200134, 201282, 201301, 201567, 202262, 202556, 204406, 205079, 205355, 205521, 207825, 209011, 209121, 209224 |
How these records were selected
To reproduce this selection, use the “UDELep May 2025” worksheet in the original research dataset.
- Match the insect record IDs above to column A (UDLepID). Within each table row, pair every listed insect ID with every listed source plant name.
- Use the first two words in column H for the insect’s scientific name, column E for its common name, and column AB for its source category.
- Treat the selected pairs as reported caterpillar host records. Keep all other source fields unchanged and outside this selected table. Include no other rows or host pairs.
- Group butterflies and skippers together, and the other categories as moths. Retain the source’s exotic-category labels and sort display names by scientific insect name.
Growing guidance: Illinois Extension — Keeping deer out of the yard and garden. Selected facts in original wording. General deer advice is not a species resistance rating.
Additional community records: Murphy, Phillippe & Ebinger (2021), Spring Bay Fen flora and vegetation. Selected facts and taxonomic links; source spellings and historical survey dates retained.
Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
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Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
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- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
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- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
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- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
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