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Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'
'Cardinal' Red-Osier Dogwood
'Cardinal' is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with cherry red winter stems. The stems are especially showy against a snowy backdrop. Tiny white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters in late spring. Flowers give way to clusters of creamy white fruit in late summer. Fruit is very attractive to birds and is generally considered to have as much if not more ornamental interest than the flowers. Dark green leaves turn an attractive red-purple in autumn.
Benefits:
Homeowner Growing and Maintenance Tips
Best grown in organically rich, medium wet to wet soils in full sun to part shade but tolerates a wide range of soils, including swampy or boggy conditions.
Trim roots with a spade and promptly remove root suckers if you don't want plants to spread and form a thicket.
The best red stem color occurs on new shoots. Although pruning is not required, you can remove 20-25% of the oldest stems in early spring each year to stimulate new growth or you can prune it heavily every year or two. Beware though, this plant flowers on old wood so when you remove old stems you are also removing the coming season's flowers and fruits.
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USDA Hardiness Zone 3-8 |
![]() "These bright red stems and nutritious berries provide good nesting sites and food for birds like me." |
Characteristics & Attributes
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Attracts Wildlife
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