Cornus sericea
Common name: 
Redosier Dogwood
Redtwig Dogwood
American Dogwood
Pronunciation: 
KOR-nus ser-EE-se-a
Family: 
Cornaceae
Genus: 
Cornus
Synonyms: 
Cornus stolonifera
Cornus sericea supsp. sericea
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Taxonomic Note:  In the past, the redstem dogwoods, Redosier and Tatarian, were classified as separate species, namely Cornus stolonifera (later C. sericea) and Cornus alba.  The Siberian dogwood was classified as Cornus sibirica or as a cultivar of Cornus alba.  It proved difficult to separate Redosier and Tatarian dogwoods using winter characteristics and their differences in general are minimal.  Both species, as well as the Siberian dogwood, are now included in Cornus sericea subsp. sericea.

  • To separate the subspecies sericea from its “western version”, the Western or Creek dogwood, which was known as Cornus stolonifera var. occidentalis or simply Cornus occidentalis, is now classified as a separate subspecies, namely Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis.

  • Cornus sericea

  • Note:  The name of selections and cultivars of these subspecies in the nursery trade are often given without the subspecies designation. 

    • Example: Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramia’

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