{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Redirect-distinguish|Red-rood|redroot (disambiguation){{!}}redroot}} {{Speciesbox | image = Red Osier Dogwood.jpg | image_caption = Red osier dogwood bearing fruit | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |last1=Maiz-Tome |first1=L. |year=2016 |title=''Cornus sericea'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T64310848A67729196 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64310848A67729196.en |access-date=6 November 2025}}</ref> | status2 = {{TNCStatus}} | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = <ref name=natureserve>{{Cite NatureServe | title = ''Cornus sericea'' | id = 2.140261 | accessdate = 2021-05-11}}</ref> | genus = Cornus | parent = Cornus subg. Kraniopsis | species = sericea | authority = L. | range_map = Cornus sericea ssp sericea range map 1.png | range_map_caption = Natural range of subsp. ''sericea'' | range_map2 = Cornus sericea ssp occidentalis range map 1.png | range_map2_caption = Natural range of subsp. ''occidentalis'' | synonyms = ''C. stolonifera, Swida sericea'' }}
'''''Cornus sericea''''', the '''red osier''' or '''red-osier dogwood''',<ref name=BSBI07>{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }}</ref> is a species of flowering plant in the family Cornaceae, native to much of North America. It has sometimes been considered a synonym of the Asian species ''Cornus alba''. Other names include '''red brush''', '''red willow''',<ref name="NRCS">USDA NRCS [https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_cose16.pdf Plant Guide: REDOSIER DOGWOOD. May, 2006]</ref><ref name="Hilger">Hilger, Inez (1951, repr. 1992) ''Chippewa Child Life and Its Cultural Background'', page 63</ref><ref name="Hart & Moore">Hart, Jeff, and Jacqueline Moore (1992). ''Montana—native plants and early peoples'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=X9W1VlJmLNEC&dq=Kinnikinick%20%22red%20osier%20dogwood%22%20OR%20%22red%20willow%22&pg=PA39 pages 38–39]. Montana Historical Society. {{ISBN|0-917298-29-2}}</ref> '''redstem dogwood''',<ref name="NRCS"/><ref name="Hart & Moore"/> '''redtwig dogwood''', '''red-rood''', '''American dogwood''',<ref name="NRCS"/> '''creek dogwood''', and '''western dogwood'''.<ref name="NRCS"/>
==Description== It is a medium to tall deciduous shrub, growing {{convert|1.5|–|4|m|ft|abbr=off}} tall and {{convert|3|–|5|m|abbr=on}} wide, spreading readily by underground stolons to form dense thickets. The branches and twigs are dark red, although wild plants may lack this coloration in shaded areas.
The leaves are opposite, {{convert|5|–|12|cm|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|2.5|–|6|cm|abbr=on}} broad, with an ovate to oblong shape and an entire margin; they are dark green above and glaucous below; fall color is commonly bright red to purple. Like all dogwoods, they have characteristic stringy white piths within the leaf stalks, which can be used for identification.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fertig |first1=Walter |title=Plant of the Week- Red Osier Dogwood |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cornus_sericea.shtml |publisher=USDA Forest Service |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref>
The flowers are {{convert|5|-|10|mm|in}} wide, flat, umbel-like and dull white, in clusters {{convert|3|–|6|cm|in}} across.
The fruit is a globose white berry {{convert|5|–|9|mm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter. It is bitter and unpalatable.<ref name="tktimb">{{Cite book |last1=Turner |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLbAAwAAQBAJ |title=Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest |last2=Kuhlmann |first2=Ellen |date=2014 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-1-60469-263-1 |edition=1st |location=Portland, OR |pages=314}}</ref>
== Taxonomy ==
=== Subspecies === It is a variable species, with two subspecies commonly accepted: *''Cornus sericea'' subsp. ''sericea'' – throughout the range of the species. Shoots and leaves hairless or finely pubescent; flower petals 2–3 mm. *''Cornus sericea'' subsp. ''occidentalis'' (Torr. & A.Gray) Fosberg – western North America. Shoots and leaves densely pubescent; flower petals 3–4.5 mm.
=== Etymology === The Latin specific epithet ''sericea'' means "silky", referring to the texture of the leaves.<ref name=RHSLG>{{cite book|last=Harrison|first=Lorraine|title=RHS Latin for gardeners|year=2012|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=9781845337315|pages=224}}</ref>
== Distribution and habitat == It is native throughout boreal and temperate zones in northern and western North America from Alaska east to Newfoundland, south to Durango and Nuevo León in the west, and Illinois and Virginia in the east.
''Cornus sericea'' L. has been recorded from counties Antrim and Londonderry in Northern Ireland.<ref>Hackney, P. 1992. "Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland." Third edition. Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen's University of Belfast. {{ISBN|0-85389-446-9}} (HB)</ref>
In the wild, the species most commonly grows in areas of rich, poorly drained soils, such as riparian zones and wetlands, or in upland areas which receive more than {{cvt|20|in|order=flip}} of annual precipitation. More uncommonly, it may be found in drier zones albeit at lesser abundance. Red osier dogwood is tolerant of flooding and has been known to survive up to seven years of water above root crown level. It occurs from sea level to {{convert|3,000|m|abbr=on|sigfig=1}}, but in many areas is most common above {{convert|1,500|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref name="USDA Forest Service">{{cite web |last1=Corey |first1=Gucker |title=Fire Effects Information System |url=https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/corser/all.html |access-date=5 May 2021 |website=Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory |publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture}}</ref>
==Ecology== Red osier dogwood provides food and cover for many species of mammals and birds. The stems and especially new shoots are browsed by moose, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, beavers, and rabbits, while the fruits are an important autumn food source for bears, small mammals, and 47 different bird species. In winter, red osier dogwood is heavily browsed by ungulates; in some areas use exceeds availability and individuals which have not been browsed are rare. The shrub is also important for nesting habitat and cover for a great variety of animals.<ref name="USDA Forest Service" />
''Cornus sericea'' is shade tolerant but prefers intermediate to high light levels. It tolerates disturbance well, and appears early in both primary and secondary succession throughout its native range, but especially in floodplains and riparian zones. It thrives in fire-disturbed sites, sprouting from seeds or damaged shrubs.<ref name="USDA Forest Service" />
Although its conservation status is overall secure, it is considered vulnerable in Iowa and critically imperiled in Kentucky and Virginia.<ref name="natureserve" />
==Cultivation== ''Cornus sericea'' is a popular ornamental shrub that is often planted for the red coloring of its twigs in the dormant season. The cultivars 'Bud's Yellow',<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/302973/i-Cornus-sericea-i-Bud-s-Yellow/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder – ''Cornus sericea'' 'Bud's Yellow' | access-date = 30 January 2018}}</ref> 'Flaviramea'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – ''Cornus sericea'' 'Flaviramea'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/4412/Cornus-sericea-Flaviramea/Details|access-date=1 May 2020}}</ref> with lime green stems, and 'Hedgerows Gold'<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/196403/i-Cornus-sericea-i-Hedgerows-Gold-(v)/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder – ''Cornus sericea'' 'Hedgerows Gold' | access-date = 30 January 2018}}</ref> (variegated foliage) have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed in 2017).<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants – Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 16 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 24 January 2018}}</ref>
Like most dogwood species native to North America, ''C. sericea'' can be parasitized by the dogwood sawfly, possibly leaving much of the plant devoid of leaves. A variety of pesticides are effective; however, hand-picking the larvae is also an option.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
==Uses== ''Cornus sericea'' is frequently used for waterway bank erosion protection and restoration in the United States and Canada. Its root system provides excellent soil retention, it is hardy and provides an attractive shrub even when bare in winter, and its ability to be reproduced by cuttings makes it a low-cost solution for large-scale plantings.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://rwmwd.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B2874F7F4-216C-49AE-A8A0-73062E72001B%7D | title=Home | access-date=2012-02-21 | archive-date=2012-02-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222153420/http://rwmwd.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B2874F7F4-216C-49AE-A8A0-73062E72001B%7D | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Deborah |date=2012-02-20 |title=Bloomingdale council funds PRC work on Bailey Brook |url=https://www.northjersey.com/news/139671573_Boro_decides_to_fund_PRC_bank_stabilization_project__.html/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307023033/http://www.northjersey.com/news/boro-decides-to-fund-prc-bank-stabilization-project-1.844353 |archive-date=2016-03-07 |website=northjersey.com}}</ref>
Some Plateau Indigenous tribes ate the berries to treat colds and to slow bleeding.<ref name="Moerman">Moerman, Daniel E. (1998) "''Cornus sericea ssp. occidentallis''" ''Native American ethnobotany'' Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, [https://books.google.com/books?id=UXaQat5icHUC&pg=PA178 page 178], {{ISBN|0-88192-453-9}}</ref><ref name="hunn">{{cite book |last= Hunn |first= Eugene S. |title= Nch'i-Wana, "The Big River": Mid-Columbia Indians and Their Land |publisher=University of Washington Press |year= 1990 |isbn= 0-295-97119-3| page=353}}</ref>
Known as ''čhaŋšáša'' in Lakota, the inner bark was also used by the Lakota and other Native Americans as "traditional tobacco", either by itself or in a mixture with other plant materials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://glenavalon.com/herbal/herbal002.html |title=Herbal lore: Red Osier Dogwood |access-date=2011-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511011217/http://glenavalon.com/herbal/herbal002.html |archive-date=2012-05-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Cutler, Charles L. (2002) ''Tracks that speak: the legacy of Native American words in North American culture'', [https://archive.org/details/tracksthatspeakl00char/page/176 <!-- quote=Kinnikinnick Ohio dogwood. --> page 176]. {{ISBN|0-618-06510-5}}</ref> Among the Algonquian peoples such as the Ojibwe, the smoking mixtures, known as kinnikinnick, blended the inner bark with tobacco,<ref name="Hilger"/> while more western tribes added it to the bearberry leaf to improve the taste.<ref name="Moerman" /><ref>Staff (2009) [http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=1355 "Bearberry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218093355/http://lewis-clark.org/content/content-article.asp?ArticleID=1355 |date=2010-12-18 }} ''Discovering Lewis and Clark'' The Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation</ref>
The Ojibwe used red-osier dogwood bark as a dye by taking the inner bark and mixing it with other bloodroot and wild plum to make yellow dye.<ref name="NRCS"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database |url=http://naeb.brit.org/uses/11026/ |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=naeb.brit.org}}</ref> There are several red dye formulas such as white birch, red osier dogwood, outer and inner bark, oak, Ashes from cedar bark and hot water.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Densmore |first=Frances |title=How Indians use wild plants for food, medicine, and crafts. |publisher=Dover |date=June 1, 1974 |isbn=9780486131108 |location=New York |publication-date=1928 |pages=370 |language=en}}</ref> Red osier dogwood, alder and hot water used to dye blankets makes a light red dye which isn't very color fast.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Densmore |first=Frances |title=Uses of plants by the Chippewa Indians |publisher=U.S. G.P.O. |year=1928 |location=Washington |pages=370–372 |language=en}}</ref> Bloodroot, wild plum, red osier dogwood, alder were used to dye porcupine quills red.<ref name=":0" /> In addition, it was used to make a black dye using alder, red osier dogwood, oak, grindstone dust or black earth, hot water.<ref name=":0" />
The withies, or osiers, are used in basketry.
==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Cornus sericea habit.jpg| shrub Image:Cornus sericea fall.jpg| shrub, fall Image:Cornus sericea winter.jpg| shrub, winter Image:Cornus Stolonifera garden show 1.jpg| twigs Image:Cornus sericea leaf.jpg| leaf Image:Cornus sericea twig.jpg| twig and leaf Image:Cornus sericea leaves and inflorescence 2003-08-11.jpg| flowers Image:Redtwigdog.jpg| flowers Image:Cornus sericea flower.jpg| flowers Image:Cornus sericea HdB.png|Botanical illustration Image:Cornus sericea seed.png| seed </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}} * {{cite book | author=Blanchan, Neltje | title=Wild Flowers Worth Knowing | year=2005 | publisher=Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation| author-link=Neltje Blanchan | title-link=Wild Flowers Worth Knowing }}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{GRIN}} * [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3275,3276,3280 Jepson Flora of California: ''Cornus sericea'']; [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3275,3276,3280,3282 subsp. ''sericea''], [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3275,3276,3280,3281 subsp. ''occidentalis'']. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060910080232/http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/frame/coses.htm ''Cornus sericea'' ssp. ''sericea'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu] * [https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=COSE16 NRCS: USDA Plants Profile: ''Cornus sericea''] * {{PFAF|Cornus sericea}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q164130}} {{Authority control}}
sericea Category:Plants used in traditional Native American medicine Category:Flora of Subarctic America Category:Flora of Eastern Canada Category:Flora of Western Canada Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States Category:Flora of the North-Central United States Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States Category:Flora of the Southwestern United States Category:Flora of the South-Central United States Category:Flora of the Southeastern United States Category:Flora of Northeastern Mexico