(Cornus alba)
Red Osier Dogwood

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus alba)

Alternative Names

Tartarian Dogwood, Siberian Dogwood, Red-twig Dogwood

Description of Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus alba)

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus alba), a member of the Cornaceae (Dogwood Family), is a deciduous shrub that grows from 8′ to 10′ tall and blooms in the spring and early summer (March to May).  This plant grows in places with full sun or partial shade that are often wet or moist.  It can handle drier conditions in a garden setting.  More information on Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus alba) can be found in this blog post.

Hosted Species

Spring Azure Butterfly (Celastrina ladon)

Io Moth (Automeris io)

Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)

Nectar Species

Birds enjoy the fruits of this species in the fall.

Habitat

This shrub grows in places with full sun or partial shade that are wet or moist.

Range of Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus alba) in the United States and Canada

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus alba) is native to most of the United States and Canada, except for the southeast and south-central United States and far northern Canada.  Note: There are two varieties, var. alba, which is more widespread and var. occidentalis, which is found in the western United States.

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Cornus, comes from the Latin word, “Cornu” meaning horn (Missouri Botanical Garden).  This describes the tough wood of the members of the genus.  The species name, alba, is Latin for “white” and describes the fruits.