![]() This shrub is the preferred nest site of American goldfinches. Eaten by songbirds, grouse, quail, partridge, ducks, crows, and other birds. Fruit is low in sugar so it is initially less attractive to wildlife and less inclined to rot than other fruits, staying on the plant through the winter and availabile when other fruits are gone. Individual plants generally first bear fruit at 3 to 4 years of age, but older plants are more prolific. Maturing in August to September, the fruit is dull white, 1/4 to 1/3 inch in diameter in rounded clusters. Rather, the Red Twig Dogwood has small, dull white or creamy flowers in flat top clusters about 2 inches across appearing in late May to early July. ![]() Unlike many dogwoods, this shrub displays no large, showy bracts. The color is green above, pale green below turning red in the fall. Leaves are 2 to 4 inch long and arranged opposite with prominent lateral veins that curve toward the tip and smooth edges. This is a good plant for boggy spots on the property or on lakeshores and streambanks. It also tolerates a wide range of soil conditions including flooding and drought but prefers moist to wet, slightly acidic soil (pH range of 5.5 to 7.0). It prefers sun but tolerates partial shade. Stems and twigs dark red when young, gradually fading to grey-green, becoming red again in the fall and winter. Red Twig Dogwoods are fast growing, many stemmed shrub, reaching a mature size of 4-8 feet tall with a spread of 10 feet. However no matter what you call this plant, it is an attractive landscaping plant, with deep red stems and twigs for winter color, many creamy white flowers in the spring followed by attractive white fruits, and spectacular maroon fall leaves. ![]() They include Red Twig Dogwood, Redosier Dogwood, Western Dogwood, American Dogwood, and Redstem Dogwood. There are at least 18 common names on the books for this dogwood. Then on the common name side things get crazy. Although the name Cornus stolonifera is in wide current use. ![]() On the scientific side the currently accepted scientific name of this dogwood is Cornus sericea. This is a dogwood shrub with something of an identity crisis. Red-osier Dogwood or Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea/stolonifera) ![]()
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