Yellow Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus ser-REE-see-ah fla-vi-ram-ME-ah
- Description
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Yellow-twig dogwood is a deciduous flowering shrub in the dogwood family (Cornaceae). This rapid-growing, multi-stemmed cultivar of the red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) has greenish-yellow stems and grows upright to a mature height of 5 to 6 feet. The Latinized cultivar name means “yellow branch.”
Yellow twig dogwood may be planted in full sun or part shade. It prefers organically rich and moist well-drained soils. This plant is more vulnerable to disease in hot summer climates. The shrub is tolerant of clay soil, wet soil, and deer. Pruning may be required to maintain the plant's shape and stem color. The brightest display of stem color is found on the young stems. The plant may be reproduced by hardwood cuttings and suckers that freely spread and form thickets.
The leaves are dark green and ovate with greenish-yellow stems during the spring and summer. The foliage turns reddish-orange in the fall, and the stems are golden. Clusters of creamy-white flowers appear in late spring. After the flowers are spent, bluish-tinged white berries appear. The flowers attract butterflies for pollination and nectar, and birds and small mammals are attracted to the fruits.
Yellow-twig dogwood is grown for its ornamental value, especially in fall and winter gardens. Its spreading root system makes the shrub a good choice for erosion control on slopes and banks. It may be planted as a specimen to add color to the garden. In naturalized areas, the shrub makes a beautiful display when planted in mass.
Quick ID Hints:
- Stems are greenish yellow to bright golden
- Leaves are dark green and turn orangish-red in the fall
- Clusters of tiny creamy-white flowers in spring
- White bluish-tinged berries in late summer and fall
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Yellow-twig dogwood is generally disease and pest free. Borers, leaf miners, and scale are less serious, but they are potential insect pests. The sawfly may strip the leaves. The plant may develop cankers in hot and humid climates. Other diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot, root rot, and leaf and twig blight.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- sericea
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- The species is native to North America, excluding the lower midwest and deep south
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies are attracted to this plant for nectar and pollination. Fruits are attractive to birds, and the plants provide nesting sites. Members of this genus support specialized bees. They include Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of bluish-tinged white berries appear in the summer to fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The creamy white flowers on flat-topped cyme appear in spring and are short-lived.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green and ovate in the spring and summer months with greenish-yellow stems. The leaves measure 2 to 4 inches long. In the fall, the leaves turn reddish-orange.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are greenish-yellow in the spring and summer. The stems are bright and golden in the fall and winter months, adding interest to a winter garden.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Wet Soil
