Outstanding Features:
Noted primarily for its red winter twig color which becomes brighter in late winter.

Description:
Height: 8-10'
Width: 8-10'
Hardiness Zone: 3a

Redosier (Red-twig) Dogwood is a large, fast growing, many stemmed shrub that is native throughout the upper midwest. It has 2-3" clusters of white flowers in late spring. Fruit are small white berries that mature in summer. They are readily eaten by birds as they ripen. The plants are extremely attractive in winter when their stems turn red. Although red is the predominant color, a cultivar with yellow winter stem color is available. Redosier Dogwood develops attractive fall foliage coloration ranging from yellow-orange to red-purple. Often grows in wet, marshy areas in the wild.

Requirements and Culture:
Tolerant of diverse soil types. Withstands poorly drained soils. Does well in either full sun or light shade. Requires renewal pruning to remove older branches and induce development of younger branches to give the best stem color in winter.

Limitations:
No severe pest problems. Some individual plants are prone to leaf spot diseases. Not tolerant of hot, droughty locations.

Selected Cultivars:

forma Baileyi - more erect habit with darker red winter stem color. Fairly resistant to leaf spot disease. Has blue-tinted fruit.

'Cardinal' was developed for its bright, cardinal red winter stem color. Fairly resistant to leaf spot disease.

'Flaviramea'- has yellow winter stem color.

'Isanti'- has a smaller, more compact plant habit maturing at 5-6'. Texture is finer and winter color is reddish purple. Susceptible to leaf spot.

Photo Credit: 1, 2 & 3 MLA. Photographs 1 & 2 are the cultivar 'Cardinal'; 3 is 'Flaviramea'.

Minnesota Power | University of Minnesota | Northern States Power Company

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