This shrub is a Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea), a highly versatile and visually striking native North American plant admired for its red stems, white flower clusters, and multi-season interest.

🌿 Foliage and Structure:

• Leaves: Broad, oval to lance-shaped, with pointed tips and smooth edges. They are deep green on top and lighter underneath, turning red to purple in fall.

• Height & Spread: Typically grows 6–9 feet tall and spreads 5–10 feet wide.

• Form: Dense, upright shrub with a rounded shape; can form thickets in naturalized plantings.

🔴 Stems and Bark:

• Key Feature: Vibrant red stems, especially showy in winter when leaves drop. This makes it a popular choice for winter landscapes.

• New stems are the most vivid, encouraging annual pruning to enhance color.

🌸 Flowers:

• Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer (May–June).

• Flowers: Flat-topped corymbs of small creamy white flowers.

• Pollinators: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

🍇 Fruit:

• Berries: Small, white to bluish-white drupes, forming in late summer.

• Wildlife: A favorite food source for birds and small mammals.

🌱 Growing Conditions:

• Light: Full sun to partial shade.

• Soil: Prefers moist to wet soils; thrives in low-lying or riparian areas.

• Tolerance: Very hardy; tolerates clay soil, erosion, and poor drainage.

🌿 Landscape Uses:

• Uses: Excellent for hedges, wildlife gardens, erosion control, or rain gardens.

• Maintenance: Prune old stems in late winter to encourage new red growth.

The Red Osier Dogwood is beloved for its four-season beauty, ecological value, and low maintenance.