Cornus sericea, Red-osier dogwood, is a fast-growing, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub native to most of North America. Valued for its striking red winter stems, white flowers, and attractive foliage, it is frequently used for landscaping, wildlife habitat, and erosion control.
 
Identifying features
Stems: The most notable feature is the slender, upright stems that turn a vibrant, deep red in winter, providing excellent color against a snowy backdrop. Younger stems display the brightest color.
Leaves: The opposite, oval-shaped leaves are dark green, with prominent veins that curve towards the tip. Fall foliage provides shades of red, orange, and purple.
Flowers: Small, creamy-white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters during the late spring. Unlike the flowering dogwood, Cornus sericea lacks large, showy bracts.
Fruit: After flowering, clusters of small, white to bluish-tinged berries appear in late summer and fall.
Form: It spreads by underground stolons to form dense thickets, growing 6 to 9 feet tall and up to 10 feet wide.
Pith test: A unique identifier for dogwoods is the rubbery, elastic white pith revealed by snapping a petiole (leaf stalk). 
Growing conditions
Native range: Found across northern and western North America, from Alaska and Newfoundland south to Illinois and Virginia.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun to partial shade. The stems will develop more vibrant color with more sun.
Soil: Thrives in consistently moist or wet soil. It is very tolerant of swampy conditions, heavy clay, and occasional flooding.
Moisture: Can tolerate drier conditions with some shade, but performs best in moist to wet soil.
Maintenance:
Pruning: To maintain the most intense red stem color, prune out up to one-third of the oldest stems each spring to encourage new growth. Alternatively, coppice (cut back to the ground) every 2–3 years.
Containing spread: To prevent its spread in a garden setting, root suckers can be regularly trimmed with a spade. 
Benefits and uses
Wildlife habitat: A crucial plant for wildlife, providing food and shelter.
Food: The berries are a food source for numerous species of songbirds and game birds. The foliage and twigs are browsed by animals like deer, elk, and rabbits.
Cover: The thicket-forming habit provides excellent nesting and cover for birds and small mammals.
Pollinators: The spring blooms attract bees and other beneficial insects.
Landscaping:
Winter interest: Planted in front of evergreen hedges, its bright red stems create a striking contrast in winter.
Screening and borders: Its dense growth makes it effective for hedges and privacy screens.
Rain gardens and erosion control: It is an excellent choice for stabilizing stream banks, lake shores, and other wet or low-lying areas.
Traditional uses: Historically, Native American tribes used Red Osier Dogwood for a variety of purposes:
Tobacco mixture: The inner bark was used in traditional smoking mixtures, including kinnikinnick.
Basket weaving: The flexible branches, known as osiers, were used for basketry.
Medicinal: The bark was used to treat ailments such as fevers, colds, and headaches.