Plant Detail

Cornus sericea |Kelseyi| (Redtwig Dogwood)

Redtwig Dogwood Kelseyi, Kelseyi Redosier Dogwood, Cornus 'Kelsey Dwarf', Cornus sericea 'Kelsey's Dwarf', Cornus stolonifera 'Kelseyi'

Perfect for small gardens, Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi' (Redtwig Dogwood) is a dwarf, rounded, suckering, deciduous shrub of great ornamental value in the landscape. Fast-growing, adaptable to most soils including wet soils, it bears a dense foliage of ovate green leaves in spring and summer, creating a nice contrast with the reddish stems. The foliage turns attractive shades of burgundy-red in the fall, before falling to the ground, revealing the vibrant, glistening, red stems. Small clusters of tiny white flowers are rarely produced in late spring. An invaluable addition to the winter garden. Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi' can be used as a coarse groundcover or in a shrub border.

  • Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun to part shade, in organically rich, medium to wet soils. It is not fussy about soils provided they are kept evenly moist and well-drained.
  • Cornus sericea looks spectacular when massed to emphasize and accentuate the cold season stem color. Great choice for shrub borders, along ponds and streams, or planted in naturalistic plantings where it can freely spread and form thickets.
  • Generally disease and pest free.  This plant is more vulnerable to diseases in hot summer climates (south of Zone 7).  Deer resistant.
  • While pruning is not required, it should be noted that the best winter stem color appears on new growth. For the best display, cut the stems flush to the ground every 2-3 years in early spring, just as the leaf buds start to swell. This radical pruning, however, means that you will have a bare spot in the garden for a few weeks and miss the creamy-white flowers or attractive berries since they only form on second-year growth. Alternatively, if severe pruning seems to onerous, one quarter or one third of the oldest stems could be pruned in early spring of each year, to stimulate the growth of new stems.
  • Propagate by hardwood cuttings, semi-ripe cuttings, or layering. Promptly remove root suckers if colonial spread is undesired
  • Cornus sericea is a species of dogwood native to much of North America (excluding the lower Midwest and deep South). It is widely grown as an ornamental plant, whose available cultivars have been selected for their winter glowing colors.

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Requirement
Hardiness 3,4,5,6,7,8
Heat Zones 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, A1, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, A2, A3, 1A, 3B
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Cornaceae
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring, Summer, Fall, Early Spring, Mid Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer
Height 2' - 3'
Spread 2' - 3'
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Characteristics Showy
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
Planting Place Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens, Small Gardens