Alternate name: Red-twig Dogwood

Family: Cornaceae, Dogwood view all from this family

Description Large, spreading, thicket-forming shrub with several stems, clusters of small white flowers, and small whitish fruit; rarely a small tree.
Height: commonly 3-10' (0.9-3 m), rarely to 15' (4.6 m).
Diameter: 3" (7.5 cm).
Leaves: opposite; 1 1/2-3 1/2" (4-9 cm) long, 5/8-2" (1.5-5 cm) wide. Elliptical or ovate; short- or long-pointed; without teeth; 5-7 long, curved, sunken veins on each side of midvein. Dull green above, whitish green and covered with fine hairs beneath; turning reddish in autumn.
Bark: gray or brown, smooth or slightly furrowed into flat plates.
Twigs: purplish-red, slender, hairy when young, with rings at nodes.
Flowers: 1/4" (6 mm) wide; with 4 spreading, white petals; many, crowded in upright, flattish clusters 1 1/4-2" (3-5 cm) wide; in late spring and early summer.
Fruit: 1/4-3/8" (6-10 mm) in diameter; whitish, juicy; stone with 2 seeds; maturing in late summer.

Habitat Moist soils, especially along streams; forming thickets and in understory of forests.

Range Central Alaska east to Labrador and Newfoundland, south to N. Virginia, and west to California; also N. Mexico; to 5000' (1524 m); to 9000' (2743 m) in the Southwest.

Discussion Red Osier Dogwood is useful for erosion control on stream banks. The common name recalls the resemblance of the reddish twigs to those of some willows called osiers, used in basketry. Branch tips of this tree will root upon touching the ground and form new shoots.