Red Osier Dogwood for Winter Bird Food & Colorful Solitude

By Sound Native Plants Staff | October 24, 2024 |

Ever notice vivid pops of red, twigy thickets on a grey winter day?

Red twig dogwood hedge with berries persisting into the autumn by Samantha Elie

That's likely our friend, red osier dogwood!

These superstars do more than add vibrant shelter to the landscape, they are a vital food source for birds and other wildlife through our long cold seasons. Better yet, beauty, privacy, and sustenance is just the start of the long list of ecosystem services provided by red osier dogwood, and... they're easy to integrate into your home!

Most landscaping needs can be fulfilled by native plants instead of non-native ornamental species!

Our Subbing Native Plants into my Landscape blog series highlights ecosystem services provided by plants native to the Pacific Northwest and encourages replacing traditional landscaping species with natives.

Native plants have evolved with their surrounding environment and as a result, are oftentimes more resilient and low-maintenance than ornamental plants. Plants native to this region fulfill niche roles that serve the rest of the ecosystem. They can provide food and shelter for wildlife, reinforce degraded soils, and oh so much more! It is important to utilize native plants in your landscape whenever possible to best support your local environment.

Cornus sericea by John Winder

Deciduous Screens Add Color & Food for Wildlife to your Landscape

What is a Deciduous Screen?

A deciduous screen is a type of hedge (if you are curious about hedges, check out our article on Pacific wax myrtle as an option for evergreen hedges). Native shrubs that grow into thickets can add color, texture, protection, and wildlife habitat wherever they grow.

The Traditional Ornamental Selection: Bamboo

All over the Pacific Northwest, bamboo attempts to provide these services. Many species of running bamboo (bamboo that spreads underground with rhizomes) are invasive in our region and will run amuck through your garden while possibly damaging sidewalks and housing foundation.

Dense bamboo screen

When I see bamboo installed in landscapes, frankly, I just feel bad for whoever has to manage it and for the surrounding ecosystem. They require a lot of upkeep and harm native plant and animal biodiversity, not even to mention your soils. You might be thinking "but, bamboo is the plant of 1,000 uses!". Yes, in the right context, bamboo can be utilitarian and add quick screening to your landscape, but I promise, there a more regenerative ways to meet these goals.

What if you could have quick screening and give back to your ecosystem?

For Deciduous Screening, Instead of Bamboo, try Red Osier Dogwood!

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Red osier dogwood is one of our restoration superstars! They thrive in moist soil but tolerate dry summer heat. They are easy to install as live stakes, fascines, or classic container plants from your local native plant nursery. This shrub typically attains a mature height of about 10-20′ and spreads nicely to form dense thickets. They have a fibrous, shallow root system and spread by layering and suckers without making the mess that running bamboo will.

Cornus sericea by Cephas on Wikimedia

Red osier dogwood is fast growing and resilient against deer (no matter how much they may love to chomp on it). This plant takes well to pruning and thrives in poor soils, making it a perfect choice for home landscapes.

We always advocate for biodiversity in planting projects. Try adding willows (Salix spp.) for additional color and habitat.

You can learn a lot more about red twig dogwood in our Plant of the Month feature. Click here for photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.

Winter Bird Food

The gorgeous berries that fruit in the summer last into the winter and are a precious food source for birds! These berries are fatty and nutritious gems, specialized for our native bird populations. The dense thickets created by branches and twigs additionally provide shelter from predators. Mammals, bats, butterflies, and moths are also supported by berries, seeds, and foliage.

Colorful Solitude

Red osier dogwood provides year-round visual interest. White flower clusters erupt in the spring, and the deeply veined, bright green foliage produces rich textures throughout the summer. In fall, the foliage develops hues of red and gold, and the leaves drop in winter to reveal vibrant twigs and branches.

The rapid and thick growth habit of red osier dogwood gifts solitude and privacy. Red osier dogwood can be planted in a hedge, living fence, and even works great in containers on a porch.

From our Species Descriptions

Cornus sericea, Red-twig dogwood

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Soil moisture: Saturated to moist

Salinity tolerance: None

Fire tolerance: Low

Transplanting success: High for container-grown, low or medium for live stakes

Growth rate: Rapid

Form: Deciduous large shrub or small tree, 5-20 feet depending on site conditions; fibrous, shallow root system, spreads by layering and suckers

Typically found in fairly wet sites, such as ditches, streambanks or lake shores. It can tolerate dry conditions in summer as long as it receives adequate water in the early growing season. Fast growing, vigorous, and spreading; however, deer love to chomp on it (though this rarely kills it). Red osier dogwood can be grown from live stakes and other cuttings with variable success; we’ve heard that installing them in shade or part shade gives the best results. Click here for more photographs of this species on the University of Washington Herbarium website.

For a breakdown of terms used in this plant description, visit our Terms Definition page, here.

If you have a deciduous screen of bamboo or another species not native to your Pacific Northwest ecoregion, consider substituting it for red osier dogwood. After the switch, you'll enjoy an abundance of ecosystem services and support your environment -- great work!

Sources

Bamboo

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989419304111#abs0010