Practical
Plants

Cornus alternifolia

Green Osier

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cornaceae
Genus
Cornus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
6 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Green osier was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who valued it particularly for its astringent bark which was used both internally and externally to treat diarrhoea, skin problems etc[11]. It is little used in modern herbalism. The dried bark is used as an astringent, diaphoretic and stimulant[8][11]. The inner bark was boiled and the solution used as an enema[8] and this solution was also used as a tea to reduce fevers, treat influenza, diarrhoea, headaches, voice loss etc[8][11]. It was used as a wash for the eyes[11]. A compound infusion of the bark and roots has been used to treat childhood diseases such as measles and worms[11]. It has also been used as a wash on areas of the body affected by venereal disease[11]. A poultice of the powdered bark has been used to treat swellings, blisters etc[11].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antiaphonic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
VD

Material uses

A light to dark-brown dye is obtained from the roots with the addition of vinegar[9]. Wood - heavy, hard, close grained. It is too small to be of commercial value, but is used locally for turnery[15][10].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Florida, west to Manitoba and Arkansas.
Habitat
Dry woods and rocky slopes[12]. Rich woodlands and forest margins in moist well-drained soils[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[14][2]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[14][3]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[3]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[14][3]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[3]. Prick out the seedlings of cold-frame sown seeds into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow the plants on for their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out in the spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, autumn in a cold frame. High percentage[13]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[13].

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[7]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and in dry soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[6]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[5]. A fast-growing but short-lived species in the wild[10], it is closely related to C. controversa[7]. This species is unusual in having alternate leaves whilst almost all other members of this genus have opposite leaves[4]. Plants have a thin bark and this makes them susceptible to forest fires[10]. There is at least one named form selected for its ornamental value[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  3. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩

  10. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  12. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  14. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

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