Description
Swida sericea (syn. Cornus sericea, Cornus stolonifera)
CT DR RG P EcoR
Soil: Well-drained
Light: Full to Part Sun
Moisture: Moist
Plant Height: 6 to 9 feet
Plant Width: 8 to 12 feet
Pests: None
Landscape Value: Great for massing, mixed or shrub borders, screens, bird and winter gardens, naturalized areas, and rain gardens. Also useful for soil stabilization.
Beautiful multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with four season interest and great wildlife value. Best known for its showy bright red stems in winter! Purple-red stems in summer/fall turn deep red in winter; oval green leaves provide striking contrast to the colorful red bark. Fragrant flat-topped clusters of white flowers bloom in late spring producing white to pale blue fruits in late summer. Foliage turns red-purple in fall. Susceptible to leaf and twig blight. Tolerates poor soil. Provides food and shelter for songbirds. Attracts butterflies. Larval host for Spring Azure butterflies. Ideal for wetter parts of the garden, but also adaptable. Very winter hardy!
1 gallon pot, 2-3 feet tall
Photo credits:
friendsofthewildflowergarden.org (photo by G.D. BeBeau)
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (photo by Sally and Andy Wasowski)
North Carolina State Extension (photo by Tom Brandt)
