Cornus sericea (stolonifera)

Cornus sericea (syn. stolonifera) is a tough and beautiful suckering shrub native to most of Canada known as red osier dogwood. It offers year-round interest with many vertical, branching stems covered in veined, oval foliage tipped with rounded clusters of white flowers that become white fruit popular with birds. It has brilliant fall colour in shades of red with orange and yellow. In winter, the stems turn bright red offering a magnificent show especially in the low winter sun or after a fresh snowfall. Grow in average to moist and even wet garden conditions. Younger stems have the boldest winter colour. Plants can be pollarded or coppiced just before the leaves begin to appear in spring. The flowers are visited by bees and butterflies. The plants can provide nesting habitat and cover for birds.