Why plant Audubon® Native Red Twig Dogwood?
According to the Morton Arboretum in Chicago, Redosier Dogwood offers food and shelter to more than 98 species of birds. Clearly, this is a plant that bird-lovers need to have in their gardens! Redosier Dogwood is one of the “Red-Twig” Dogwoods, shrubby Accents grown primarily for their stems, which turn a candy-apple-red color in winter. Birds don’t care about that, however—they love Red-Twigs for their plump white berries. The fruits ripen in August or September, and when they do, Cedar Waxwings, Purple Finches, catbirds, titmice, grosbeaks, robins, cardinals, kingbirds, and bluebirds are interested—not to mention at least 89 other species!
Northern gardeners rejoice! This one is just for you. Redosier Dogwood inhabits the entire northern half of the U.S., plus all the provinces of Canada. It dips down into the Southwest, too, but only at high elevations. This cold-hardy native laughs at frigid winters and hates hot, humid summers. In the wild, Redosier Dogwood is quite often found in open woods bordering swamps. It spreads via suckers and so performs a valuable service in stabilizing the soil and preventing erosion. Of course, it is also valuable to the birds and other creatures that live near it.
How to use Audubon® Native Red Twig Dogwood in the landscape?
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-7
How To Plant Audubon® Native Red Twig Dogwood
Although Redosier Dogwood typically grows near swamps in its native haunts, you don’t have to grow it in wet soil in your landscape. This adaptable native is surprisingly drought tolerant once established, as long as it is grown where summers aren’t too hot. In hot areas, it is subject to a canker disease that is disfiguring or even fatal. Plant it in full sun or light shade. In the right conditions, Redosier Dogwood is easy to please and fast-growing. A hard pruning every few years will encourage the brightest red stems to form, though this will sacrifice fruit production in the following year.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.