Redtwig Dogwoods are at their best in winter after leaves have fallen and frosts have set in - this is when brightly colored decorative bark begins to glow. Branches vary in color from dark maroon to coral to yellow depending on species and cultivar.
Most have green leaves, but some varieties have bi-colored or multicolored leaves, which can really brighten up shady corners. Small white summer flowers occur in clusters and white or blue berries follow.
Typical redtwigs grow fast to 8-12’ tall and wide with dense branching and foliage, and some spread under ground forming multi-stemmed thickets. There are many lower-growing and better behaved forms available though. All varieties are tough, adapting to many different soils and light conditions and withstanding temperatures as low as -50 degrees.
Leaves are green with white edges, branches are dark red. This is also sold as 'Elegantissima'.
Grows 6-8’ x 6-8’.
Really neat deep green crinkled leaves are stacked on stiff upright branches.
Fall color is dark purple, almost black, and winter twigs are dark purple.
Grows 4’ x 4’.
Green leaves with white edges and dark red winter branches.
Smaller than ‘Argenteo-Marginata’, 5-6’.
Bright gold and chartreuse leaves spring and summer, turn red in autumn. Branches are dark red. Grows 7’ x 7’.
Lime green leaves turn gold and peach in fall. Branches are gold with coral blush in winter.
Grows 3-4’ x 3-4’.
Looks like a fire in winter — gold branches in the center radiate to burning red tips.
Leaves are bright green, turning gold and orange in fall.
Grows 5-6’.
The species Cornus serica is native to Oregon and is an excellent addition to gardens when space is available. Read more about our native Twig Dogwood here.
Dark green leaves turn red and purple before falling in autumn. Winter branches are deep purple. Growth is upright and vigorous, but ‘Bailey’ suckers less than the species.
Grows 8-10’ x 8-10’.
Dark green leaves with nice fall color. Winter branches are bright coral pink, much brighter than most C. sericeas. Grows 6-8’.
Solid green leaves turn gold in autumn. Branches are lime green in summer and turn gold when winter chills.
Grows 8-9’.
Green leaves turn red and purple in fall, branches are dark red. Nice mid-size selection, grows 5-6’.
Very slender branches turn red and purple in winter. Green leaves turn red in fall.
Dwarf selection, reliably growing only 2’ x 2’.
Yellow-twig variety with white and gold leaves. Grows 6-8’ x 8-10'.
Year-round
Best selection in March-May
Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea, Cornus sericea (C. stolonifera)
Common: Tatarian Dogwood, Bloodtwig Dogwood, Redtwig or Red Osier Dogwood
Origin: Cornus alba — native to Siberia and Northern China, Cornus sanguinea native to Europe and Western Asia, Cornus sericea native to Oregon and most of North America, excluding the south from Texas to Florida.
Characteristics: Three species of Cornus prized for brightly colored winter bark. Bark ranges from gold to red to black, but fades when temperatures warm in spring. Leaves are simple, some green and others variegated with white, gold or pink. If planted in sun, many Twig Dogwoods have pretty red to purple fall color. Small white flowers occur in clusters and bloom in summer. White or purple berries follow in autumn. Most are multi-stemmed suckering shrubs (they send up new branches from the ground).
Size: Varies from 12” to 12’ depending on variety.
Culture: Sun, part shade. Prune oldest branches (or the whole plant if you wish to control height) to the ground in March to encourage new growth that colors well the following winter.
None should be planted close to a house because the root systems grow so quickly.
Problems:
Read up on some of our favorite shrubs and remember, this is only a smattering of the variety of shrubs we carry all year long! Note: Viewing a Native Plant will take you into our Native Plant section.
