Red osier dogwood
Cornus sericea

Family: Cornaceae

What it is like

A shrub which develops suckers. It loses its leaves. It grows 4 m tall and spreads 2 m wide. The branches are dark purple. The small branches are silky. The leaves are oval to sword shaped. They are smooth above and silky underneath. They turn orange to red in autumn. The flowers are white. The fruit are white with a green tinge.

There are about 45 Cornus species.

Where it is found

Temperate. It is best in light to medium, moist soils. It needs a protected shaded position. It is resistant to frost but damaged by drought. It suits hardiness zones 2-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, North America (country/location of origin), Spain, USA

How it is used for food

The berries are bitter but eaten. They are eaten fresh. They can be mashed with sweeter berries. The seeds are extracted and eaten. They can be stored.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

It can be grown by seed or by layering.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cornus stolonifera;