Red Osier Dogwood Cornus stolonifera (formerly Cornus sericea)
Other common names:
Red Osier Cornel Other scientific names: Cornus sericea Family: Dogwood Family (Cornaceae) Group: Dogwoods Distinctive features: Shrub; This shrub has distinctive red bark and usually grows in wet areas. Twigs have white pith. Similar species: • Silky Dogwood (Cornus obliqua) - has striped bark. •
Round-leaved Dogwood (Cornus rugosa) - has large round leaves. • Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) - has alternate leaves. • Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) - has showy white flowers with large petals (actually sepals).
• Dogwoods Flowers: Spring, Summer; White; 4 parts (petals) Leaves: Opposite/Whorled, Simple, Entire; Opposite, simple. Height:
2 m (6 ft) Trunk:
White pith. Habitat: Fields and Open Areas, Wet Areas; Open wetlands, damp woods. Grows in Sun/Shade:
Sun Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 166 Shrubs of Ontario: 359 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Very common.
For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs Photographs:
123 photographs available, of which 8 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Like most dogwoods, it has opposite leaves and branches.
Note the distinctive shiny red bark. Near the ground it tends to be more green. The coloration appears to be dependent on whether the sun shines on the bark. Where shaded, it is green. In the sun, it is red.
Red Osier Dogwood is very good for making baskets, as it bends easily without readily breaking. For more information about this, please visit the Wildwood Survival website, containers section.
