(Cornus sericea)
Red Osier Dogwood grows in many habitats but prefers moist growing soil. It is a very bushy multi-stemmed and colourful shrub. This plant has beautiful deep green leaves that are arranged oppositely on bright red stems, this gets more impressive when there is snow on the ground.
In the spring you will find four peddled white flowers that have burst forth from a green group of buds. Come fall and into the winter months, you will see green to blue coloured berries that finally turn into a wonderful aqua-blue colour. Up to 95 percent of wild birds will feed on these berries. Other woodland creatures including squirrels and bears will also feed on the berries. Leaves can remain well into winter and range from a pale gold to a deep red colour. It’s a beautiful shrub.
Red Osier Dogwood has many traditional medicinal uses. Tea made from the bark has been used to help recover from coughs, head congestion and fevers. A wash made from this tea can be used to clean rashes and ulcers, you can also use it to control dandruff.
Red Osier Dogwood can be found throughout the northern parts of North America, including all of British Columbia, Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories