Red Osier Dogwood is an upright, red-stemmed shrub growing from 3’ to 9’ tall. It spreads by suckering into a small thicket, but if this is not desired the suckers can be pruned, and the height can be pruned as well in late winter if needed. It is often planted in urban areas as it is tolerant of all kinds of soil types, although it prefers slightly wetter soils. Cultivars are often used by the landscaping industry (see notes for making sure seeds are of the straight species only). The plants help control erosion in wetter areas like along the banks of rivers, and it does well in areas that are flooded in spring. Small white umbrella-shaped flowers give way to white drupes in fall which are enjoyed by many birds.

Dark green leaves grow on the beautiful red stems; these leaves turn a red shading to purple in the fall. In the winter, the red stems of Red Osier Dogwood are sometimes the only colour to be found in the landscape, where they show up bright against the snow.

Red Osier Dogwood is an important keystone species growing wild all around the Ottawa area. The many gifts of Red Osier Dogwood include branches for basketmaking, where its red ads colour to baskets, and medicinal qualities used by Anishinaabe and Cree peoples. It gives habitat and food to many small birds and animals, such as including a food source for the Azure butterfly.