Red Osier Dogwood - cornus stolonifera

Appearance

• Small, 4 petaled, white and green flowers
• Deciduous, oval, green opposite leaves 5-10 cm long, red leaves in autumn
• Smooth and round, red barked stems, often bright red
• Small, white, berry- like drupes and very bitter

Habitat

• Wooded and shrub swamps, especially along creeks and riversides
• Swamps and streamside forests in moist soil

Growth Habit

• Spreading shrub with many stems
• 1-6 meters tall
• low branches often lying on ground
• Grows May through June, Deciduous

Natural History

• Aboriginal people ate the berries and the Quileute and the Straits Salish brewed a tonic tea from the bark
• The branches were used for salmon spreaders and basket rims
• Also called Creek Dogwood