Cornus stolonifera

Red-osier Dogwood

Redosier Dogwood also known as American dogwood, red stem dogwood, and red willow using common names and Cornus stolonifera L. and Cornus sericea is a deciduous woody shrub in the Cornaceae family. There are man subspecies for both C. stolonifera and C. sericea. The name “stems” from the color of the woody portions of the plant. C. stolonifera sends out underground chutes called stolons, hence the species’ name. It has smooth reddish bark and opposite simple leaves. Inflorescence is a cyme with white to cream colored flowers. Fruit is a berry that is white with a smooth flesh. You can tell dogwood from other woody shrubs with opposite leaves by pulling a leaf apart. The tissue surrounding the veins of the leaf stick together and strings of plant tissue can be seen.

Habitat

This plant can be found throughout the northern parts of the United States and throughout the West. See the map on this page for states in which C. stolonifera is found. The plant is usually found in damp soil near a body of water. It has a low drought tolerance and will die is saline soils. Wild plants of this species can grow to 5 meters high but this is uncommon. Most plants are 1.5-2 meters high with the same diameter. Because it is easy to establish and grows rapidly, redosier dogwood is useful for rehabilitation of disturbed sites. It is an excellent soil stabilizer along stream banks because of its thick, extensive root system.

Uses

Native Americans have smoked the inner bark of the plant mixed with tobacco to be used in sacred ceremonies. Certain tribes also processed the bark to make dyes, mostly red. Berries ripen in late summer or fall and are a source of food for a variety of migrating wildlife. Some bird varieties that eat the berries are waterfowl, woodpeckers, starlings, swallows, and magpies. It is used as a landscape plant due to its red stems that contrast with the deep green leaves. It can be seen along golf courses, parks, and canyons throughout Utah.

Daryl Erickson, Fall 2007