Dogwood, Yellow Osier

Yellow Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea')

Golden-yellow young stems make this native-species selection especially visible after leaf fall. It forms a spreading shrub rather than a narrow accent, with creamy spring flowers and pale fruit later in the season.

Key Characteristics

Winter Color without Losing All the Flowers

Young stems carry the strongest yellow color. Remove a portion of the oldest stems when renewal is needed, rather than cutting the entire planting every year. Leaving some mature stems preserves flowers, fruit, and cover alongside the fresh winter growth.

Specialist Bees and Bird Food

Dogwood flowers supply pollen for specialist Andrena bees. White to bluish-tinged drupes feed birds, while the branching colony provides cover. Plant it as part of a mixed moist-site border so food and shelter continue beyond its own flowering period.

A Living Bank or Moist Border

Spreading roots and suckers can help hold soil along a suitable bank or low border. Give the colony a boundary where it meets a path or smaller plants. It tolerates wet soil and clay, but hot, humid sites can bring canker and leaf problems; keep roots watered during establishment and avoid crowding.

Product Details

• Species ancestry: A cultivated selection of North American Cornus sericea.
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade.
• Soil: Medium to wet, moisture-retentive soil.
• Mature height: Usually about 5–6 feet, spreading by suckers.
• Bloom: Late spring to early summer, often May–June locally.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 3–8.
• Fruit: White to pale bluish drupes for wildlife.

Planting and Ongoing Care

Water the root ball thoroughly at planting, keep mulch away from the trunk or crown, and water through dry spells while roots establish. Check for circling roots before planting and protect the root zone from mowing damage.