What soil does Red osier dogwood grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, calcareous.

Is Red osier dogwood hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Red osier dogwood be planted?

Plant it at least 2 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Red osier dogwood be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 2 plants per metre.

How much water does Red osier dogwood need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Red osier dogwood

Cornus sericea

Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Red osier dogwood — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A vigorous, multi-stemmed shrub grown for its winter stems: bright red in the species, yellow-green in the widely sold 'Flaviramea', while the dwarf 'Kelseyi' also works as ground cover. It grows in almost any soil and copes with damp, occasionally waterlogged spots, but it forms a dense thicket by underground stems and by branches that root where they touch the ground, so give it room or cut around the clump with a spade. The young stems have the best colour, so remove some of the oldest ones at the base in early spring.

Watch out for

It spreads fast by underground stems and layering branches, and after escaping from gardens it has naturalised in several parts of Central Europe, where it can form dense single-species stands in cool, damp habitats, along watercourses and at woodland edges. Its sale is banned in Switzerland and it is on the watch list in Luxembourg, so do not plant it near natural banks, wetlands or woodland edges and do not dump prunings outdoors. Stressed plants in hot, dry sites often get stem canker, leaf spot and twig blight; scale insects and leaf miners also occur.

Considered invasive in a neighbouring country

It isn't listed here, but don't plant it near natural habitats, woodland or water, and don't leave the clippings outside the garden.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 2.5 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3 m × 1.5–3 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–June, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 2 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 26, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Hedge plants Plants for screening Shrubs for pollinators Plants with autumn colour Shrubs with autumn colour

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Compare with similar plants

Red osier dogwood vs Common dogwood Red osier dogwood vs Red-barked dogwood

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