Tatarian Dogwood Cornus sericea
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Tatarian Dogwood:
Previously known as:
- Cornus stolonifera
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus san-GWIN-ee-ah
- Description
-
Red-twig dogwood tolerates a range of soil conditions, including wet and dry sites, and is also air pollution tolerant. It grows vigorously and spreads by underground stems to form a colony that can become weedy in some areas, though its spreading roots can help mitigate erosion. Its showy red stems provide great winter interest. They work well as a specimen or massed in a shrub border, or used in front of an evergreen hedge for contrast. They tolerate wet areas so they can be planted in low spots in landscapes. Use them to form a hedge or thicket and provide screening or security.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Bloom: Summer, early Fruit: Summer-Fall, red berries Bark: Winter
Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: Leaf miner and scale are less serious potential insect pests. When stressed, is susceptible to a large number of disease problems, most serious is dogwood anthracnose. Other diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot and leaf & twig blight. It can also become vulnerable to borers.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Artic Fire'
- 'Cardinal'
Rapid-growing, max size 6'-9' tall
'Flaviramea'
- 'Kelseyi'
- 'Silver and Gold'
- 'Silver and White'
Variety with variegated leaves, white fringes with green blade
Golden twig dogwood famous for golden colored stalks for winter interest - 'Artic Fire'
- 'Artic Fire', 'Cardinal', 'Flaviramea', 'Kelseyi', 'Silver and Gold', 'Silver and White'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Artic Fire'
- 'Cardinal'
Rapid-growing, max size 6'-9' tall
'Flaviramea'
- 'Kelseyi'
- 'Silver and Gold'
- 'Silver and White'
Variety with variegated leaves, white fringes with green blade
Golden twig dogwood famous for golden colored stalks for winter interest - 'Artic Fire'
- 'Artic Fire', 'Cardinal', 'Flaviramea', 'Kelseyi', 'Silver and Gold', 'Silver and White'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- sericea
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans are known to have used this plant for basketweaving and in tool making. It was also used as food.
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds and small mammals and plants provide nesting sites. It is the larval host plant of the Spring Azure butterfly. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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 pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3b, 3a, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- White with a blue tinge fruits are attractive to birds and hold even more ornamental value than the flowers.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Dull white flowers on flat-topped cyme in early summer; short-lived dark purple drupe in fall
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Medium to dark green ovate to lacelolate leaves; 2" to 5" long; go from orange to purplish to reddish in the fall.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Showy bark provides winter interest.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, upright bright red to dark blood-red stems with horizontal branching provide interest in winter; the best color on young, vigorous stems so severely prune in early spring.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Wet Soil
- Wind
