Red osier dogwood

Red osier dogwood: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad, upright shrub 2–3 m tall that gradually widens through suckers.

Stems

Bright red and smooth when young; older wood turns a dull grey-brown.

Leaves

Oval and opposite, with clearly curved veins; red to purple in autumn.

Flowers

Small, creamy-white flowers in flat heads, in May and June.

Fruit

White, sometimes bluish-tinged berries in late summer, much loved by birds.

Roots

Shallow and fibrous, with suckers that send up new stems.

Flowering: May–June · Plants: March–April and October–November · Pruning: March–April

Why grow it?

• Bright red stems that light up the winter garden, especially in snow or low sunlight.
• Tolerates wet soil: ideal beside a pond or stream or in a damp hollow.
• Bees on the flowers, birds on the white berries and shelter in the dense thicket.
• Red to purple autumn colour before the leaves drop.
• Fully hardy, tough and easy to propagate.
• The coloured stems look lovely in a vase or a Christmas arrangement.

Red osier dogwood: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; the stems colour best in full sun.
• Almost any soil: sand, loam, clay or peat, acid to chalky.
• Moist to wet: it does best where the soil does not dry out.
• Allow 1.5–2 m per plant; in a group or informal hedge about 1 m.
• Bear the suckers in mind: give it room or plant it where it is allowed to spread.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam, clay or peat

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal or wet

Size

2 m tall, 3 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -40 °C)

Goes well with

• Birch: White trunks beside red stems: a classic winter picture.
• Snowdrop: Small white flowers at its feet in February, under the bare stems.
• Purple loosestrife: Purple spires in summer in the same damp spot, popular with bees.
• Ornamental grasses: Straw-coloured stems that stand out beautifully against the red in winter.

Red osier dogwood: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–November.

1. Plant in March–April or October–November, when the ground is not frozen.
2. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in some compost.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as it was in the pot and firm the soil well.
4. Space plants 1–1.5 m apart, about 1 m in a group or hedge.
5. Water in thoroughly straight away, even if it is raining.
6. Spread a mulch of wood chips or leaf mould around the base.

Care

Watering

In the first year during dry spells. After that only in long, dry summers, especially on sandy soil.

Feeding

Some compost after the spring prune encourages strong new shoots.

Mulching

A layer of mulch keeps the soil moist, which it likes.

Suckers

In spring, chop off suckers that stray too far with a sharp spade.

Stems for the vase

In winter, cut a few red stems for a bouquet or Christmas decoration.

Tip: Prune out a third of the oldest stems every spring rather than everything at once: that way you keep brightly coloured young stems and still have flowers and berries for the birds. Plant it where the winter sun falls on the stems.

Red osier dogwood: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March–April.

When: From March to early April, before the leaves emerge.

How:

• Each year, cut about a third of the oldest, dullest stems down to the ground.
• If you only want the brightest colour, cut all stems back to 5–10 cm above the ground every two or three years.
• Remove dead, weak and crossing stems.
• After a hard prune, give compost and water so it reshoots vigorously.

Caution: After a hard prune it flowers little or not at all that year, so there are no berries for the birds either. Pruning a third each year gives you a bit of everything.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings

From November to February: push 20 cm lengths of one-year-old stems two thirds of the way into the ground. They root very easily.

Layering

Low stems often root by themselves where they touch the ground. Sever them in spring and replant.

Suckers

In spring, dig up a rooted sucker and plant it elsewhere.

Red osier dogwood: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −40 °C.

• Fully hardy: no protection at all is needed in Belgium.
• Winter is its best season: the red stems are at their finest from November to March.
• Wait until March to prune, so you can enjoy the colour all winter.
• It also survives easily in a pot; just make sure the pot does not dry out.

Diseases and pests

• Dull stems: Old stems and stems in too much shade lose their colour. Prune out a third every year and give it more light.
• Leaf spot: Brown or purple spots on the leaves in wet summers. Clear up fallen leaves and keep the shrub airy.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves, mainly in dry weather. Water and remove affected leaves.
• Aphids: On young shoots in spring. Ladybirds usually deal with them; otherwise hose them off.
• Too many suckers: The shrub spreads. Chop off the suckers with a spade every year.

Through the year

• January: Enjoy the red stems. Take hardwood cuttings.
• February: Cut stems for a vase. Take hardwood cuttings.
• March: Prune: remove a third of the oldest stems. Plant. Give compost.
• April: Finish pruning before the leaves emerge. Plant. Remove suckers.
• May: Flowering begins. Watch for aphids.
• June: In flower. Water in dry weather.
• August: White berries appear; birds arrive.
• October: Red autumn colour. Plant.
• November: Plant. The leaves drop and the red stems appear.
• December: Winter colour. Cut a few stems for a Christmas arrangement.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Birds

Berries, seeds or insects as food, or a place to nest.

Did you know?

• If you gently tear a leaf in half, the halves stay connected by fine, elastic threads from the veins. That is typical of dogwoods.
• The name ‘osier’ refers to the pliable stems, which were used in North America for basketry, much like willow withies.
• In its homeland it is widely planted to stabilise riverbanks, thanks to its dense roots and suckers.