Montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring and summer.
Near Yellow Jacket Canyon, June 8, 2004.

Red-Osier Dogwood is a distinctive bush year-round: Its maroon stems stand out in winter snows; its clusters of numerous, tiny white flowers are showy in the spring and summer; its white fruits are handsome all summer long (but don't last long because birds enjoy them); and its leaves are an attractive maroon in the fall.

Red-Osier Dogwood grows to about eight feet tall and spreads into a thicket by sending out root shoots.  Before its leaves are on, Red-Osier is sometimes mistaken for a willow.

Linnaeus named both the genus and the species in 1771.  Early 21st century research confirmed that the North American species is the same as the European species and is, therefore, to be named the same: Cornus alba.

"Cornus mas" was a Latin name for the Cornelian Cherry tree; "corn" is Latin for "horn", referring to the dense wood. "Swida" is the common Czech name for the plant and "sericea" is Greek for "silken".

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring and summer.
West Mancos Trail, June 1, 2004.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring and summer.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, May 10, 2004.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring and summer.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, July 15, 2004.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring and summer.
Vallecito Creek Trail, September 13, 2010 and near Yellow Jacket Canyon, October 8, 2010.

Cornus alba is an attractive plant throughout the year.

Montane, subalpine. Streamsides. Spring and summer.
West Mancos Trail, October 2, 2012.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Cornus alba