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Redosier Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Native to:
Canada, Labrador, Mexico, Prince Edward I., United States, Virgin Islands

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Cornaceae
Genus:
Cornus
Species:
Cornus sericea
USDA Symbol:
COSE16

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
400 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★★★★☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia), Allen's Aphelia (Aphelia alleniana), Antispila aurirubra, Caloptilia cornusella, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), common gray (Anavitrinella pampinaria), Dimorphic Bomolocha Moth (Hypena bijugalis), Effecta Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena effecta), Epinotia lindana, Eulithis xylina, Euplexia benesimilis, fragile white carpet moth (Hydrelia albifera), friendly probole (Probole amicaria), funeral dagger moth (Acronicta funeralis), George's pinion (Lithophane georgii), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), herminia moth (Eudeilinia herminiata), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), Johnson's euchlaena moth (Euchlaena johnsonaria), least-marked euchlaena moth (Euchlaena irraria), Lycia rachelae, Nevada buckmoth (Hemileuca nevadensis-complex), Ochre Euchlaena (Euchlaena marginaria), Olethreutes punctanum, Oligia mactata, One-spotted variant moth (Hypagyrtis unipunctata), Pandemis leafroller (Pandemis pyrusana), Papestra cristifera, Saw-winged Euchlaena Moth (Euchlaena serrata), Walker’s Atlas Moth (Samia walkeri), woolly gray (Lycia ursaria), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Moths:Antispila freemani, Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata), hag moth (Phobetron pithecium)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, butterflies, small mammals
Fall Color:
red, purple
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire; fire can stimulate seed germination.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, moisture-retentive loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Prefers wetland areas and riparian zones

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
30–60 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification for 60-90 days to break dormancy; germination occurs in spring.

Pre-treatment: Mix an equal amount of seeds with either perlite or vermiculite in a Ziploc-style bag or a small Rubbermaid-style container. Add a small amount of water. Cold store in a refrigerator or cold garage (33-42 degrees F) for at least 2-3 months. Seeds can be stored up to 3 years.

Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants in the eastern central Upper Peninsula. Flowers from June to August. Seed is a white berry (drupe). Seed is harvested in September and October. The plant is typically found in marshes, swamps, wet shores, sides of rivers and streams, on rock out crops and talus slopes, coniferous and mixed thickets on shores and on sand dunes.

Source: npn.rngr.net

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