{"product_id":"redtwig-dogwood","title":"Redtwig Dogwood","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Classic Native Shrub with Brilliant Red Winter Stems\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRedtwig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is the Minnesota-native workhorse behind the bold red winter stems you see lighting up snowy landscapes across the state. White spring flowers and white berries feed pollinators and birds, summer foliage turns reddish in fall, and the bare red stems carry the show all winter. Tough, adaptable, and a champion of wet soil. Whether you're brightening a winter view in Edina, planting a rain garden in Woodbury, or building a native screen in Maple Grove — Redtwig Dogwood is a four-season staple for zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRedtwig Dogwood Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCornus sericea\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRedtwig Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood, Red Twig Dogwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–9 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFast — vigorous, multi-stemmed; suckers to form a thicket\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade. Stem color is reddest in full winter sun.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to high. Loves consistent moisture and tolerates wet soil — excellent for rain gardens.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — fully hardy and reliable here\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — tolerates Minnesota clay-loam and seasonally wet ground; thrives in moist soil.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — green summer leaves with reddish fall tones; bare red stems carry the winter show.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F. A tough Minnesota native.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately deer-resistant.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinnesota native — supports native pollinators and birds and the Lawns to Legumes program.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlat clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by white berries; brilliant red stems all winter.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eRedtwig Dogwood Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWinter color and screening\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts bold red stems light up the winter landscape, and its vigorous, suckering habit makes a fast informal screen or naturalized thicket in Minnetonka or Woodbury.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRain gardens and wet spots\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA native of Minnesota wetlands, it excels in rain gardens, pond edges, ditches, and low, wet areas where many shrubs drown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNative and wildlife plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite spring flowers feed pollinators and white berries feed birds, anchoring a habitat or restoration planting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Redtwig Dogwood in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) is the second-best window, giving the shrub a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Redtwig Dogwood\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt tolerates wet feet, so low, moist, or rain-garden spots are ideal; it also grows in average soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace 5–6 feet apart for a screen or thicket; give it room to sucker and spread.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a water basin to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark, kept off the stems. For brightest color, remove a third of the oldest stems at the base each spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Redtwig Dogwood in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days; this moisture-lover would rather be too wet than too dry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished red-twig dogwood still appreciates steady moisture — water deeply during dry spells. In a rain garden or naturally moist spot it often needs no supplemental water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf used, place emitters 12–18 inches from the crown and keep the root zone moist. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I keep the stems bright red?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe youngest stems are reddest. Remove about a third of the oldest stems at the base each spring — or cut the whole plant back hard every few years — to keep bright young growth coming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — Cornus sericea (red osier dogwood) is a Minnesota native found in wetlands across the state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it spread?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it suckers to form a thicket, which is great for naturalizing and screening. Give it room or remove suckers to contain it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it grow in wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's one of the best shrubs for rain gardens, ditches, and low, wet spots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArctic Fire Dogwood — a compact red-twig for smaller spaces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBud's Yellow Dogwood — a native dogwood with yellow winter stems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54309348770097,"sku":null,"price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54309348802865,"sku":null,"price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"#7 Gallon","offer_id":54309348835633,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#10 Gallon","offer_id":54309348868401,"sku":null,"price":82.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/redtwig-dogwood.jpg?v=1779567571","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/redtwig-dogwood","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}