Cornus sericea

• Flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Berries are eaten by birds.
• Provides for wildlife.
  

• Spring: Flowering
• Summer: Green foliage, developing berries
• Fall: Foliage turns reddish-purple
• Winter Bright red stems provide striking seasonal interest
  

• Naturalized and native plant gardens
• Rain gardens, stream banks, and erosion control
• Wildlife gardens (provides food and cover)
• Winter interest with its striking red stems
  

• Oval, dark green leaves with noticeable veins.
• Fall color can be reddish-purple depending on the cultivar.
  

• Small, creamy white clusters bloom in late spring to early summer.
• Not particularly showy but important for pollinators.

• Site selection: Choose a location with full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained to wet soil.
• Soil preparation: Tolerates a range of soils, including clay; enrich with compost for poor soils.
• Planting depth: Plant at the same depth as the container or root ball.
• Spacing: Space 4–6 feet apart if planting in groups or hedges.
• Best time to plant: Spring or fall for best root establishment.
  
  
  
  

• Prune in late winter or early spring to promote vibrant red stem color (newer stems are brightest).
• Can be cut back to the ground every 2–3 years ("rejuvenation pruning").
• Remove older, dull-colored stems annually to encourage fresh growth.

• Moisture-loving; thrives in wet soils, but tolerates seasonal dryness once established.
• Great for and streambanks.
  

Full sun to part shade

Cut stems in late fall or winter for use in decorative arrangements or floral displays.

• Apply compost or a slow-release, balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) in early spring if growth is weak.
• Generally not fertilizer-dependent when planted in good soil.

• Insect-pollinated (primarily bees).
• Flowers are self-fertile, but insect activity improves fruit production.
  

Moisture-loving native plants:

• Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris)
• Carex spp. (Sedges)
• Eutrochium (Joe-Pye Weed)
• Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)
• Physostegia virginiana