Practical
Plants

Cornus sericea

Red Osier Dogwood

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cornus genus in the family Cornaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Cornaceae
Genus
Cornus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
2.5 m
Spread
4 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[3][7][18]. Juicy[2]. Bitter and unpalatable according to some reports[13], it was mixed with other fruits such as juneberries (Amelanchier spp) and then dried for winter use by native North Americans[18]. The fruit can cause nausea[10]. The fruit is up to 9mm in diameter[14]. Seed[2]. No more details are given, but the seeds are quite small and woody, looking rather less than edible[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[19].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Red osier dogwood was widely employed by several native North American Indian tribes who valued it especially for its astringent and tonic bark, using it both internally and externally to treat diarrhoea, fevers, skin problems etc[18]. It is little used in modern herbalism. The bark and the root bark are analgesic, astringent, febrifuge, purgative, slightly stimulant and tonic[19][10][18]. Drying the bark removes its tendency to purge[10]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of headaches, diarrhoea, coughs, colds and fevers[18]. Externally, the decoction has been used as a wash for sore eyes, styes and other infections and also to treat skin complaints such as poison ivy rash and ulcers[18]. The bark shavings have been applied as a dressing on wounds to stop the bleeding[18]. A poultice of the soaked inner bark, combined with ashes, has been used to alleviate pain[18]. The plant is said to have cured hydrophobia[19].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A fibre obtained from the bark is used as cordage[23]. The bark can be twisted into a rope[18]. The powdered bark has been used as a toothpowder to preserve the gums and keep the teeth white[19]. An oil obtained from the seed burns well and can be used in lighting[19]. A red dye can be obtained from the bark mixed with cedar ashes[18]. The branches are pliable, they are used as rims in basket making[23][18]. The stem wood is very tough and flexible[16]. Plants can be grown as a tall ground cover for colonising large areas. The cultivar 'Flaviramea' has been recommended[15].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Dental care

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
N. America - Newfoundland to New York, west to Alaska and California. Naturalized in Britain[9].
Habitat
Shores and thickets[20]. Along streams, rivers and moist sites, 450 - 2700 metres[17].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[22][6]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[22][8]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[8]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[22][8]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[8]. 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[21]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[21].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[14]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil and a position in sun or partial shade[4]. Succeeds in poorly drained soils[14]. Plants are hardy to about -35°c[12]. A rampant suckering shrub[1]. A number of cultivars have been developed for their ornamental value[11]. This species is closely allied to C. alba[5]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[14].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  4. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩

  7. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  10. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  13. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  15. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  16. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  19. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  23. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page