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Red-osier dogwood
Habit (mature) · Sulfur (en.wikipedia) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea
A native northern + western North American deciduous shrub with brilliant red winter stems (the design-defining trait), white spring flower clusters, white-to-blue drupes, and orange-red fall foliage. Tolerates wet feet + cold winters; among the most reliable winter-interest native shrubs for cold landscapes.
Native: 35 US states + 8 CA provinces
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (71/100)
Structure
Border
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
72-108" tall · 72" apart
Hardy in zones
2a-7b
brutally cold to cold winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Mild
cool to mild summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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Native across 43 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Marginal
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
✓→⚠
Well-suited today, but likely marginal by 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/red-osier-dogwood
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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