Red-Osier Dogwood

If you've been in the Northwest during the Spring, you have most likely seen at least one blooming dogwood tree.  It's one of the favorite native trees to plant in yards and with its large and numerous paper white blooms, is quite spectacular. This is the Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) tree that grows to about 30 feet, usually under the shade of larger conifers or hardwoods. There are other dogwood trees in the east, but the Pacific Dogwood is unique to the west coast, living as far south as San Francisco.

This post is to call attention to a close relative, the Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus ciricea). It's not a tree, but a large shrub that grows along moist, wooded areas, especially along creeks or rivers. The flowers are white but much smaller and bloom in large clusters. Another unique feature of the plant is its red branches, hence the common name. We spotted these growing along the Banks-Vernonia bike trail recently (8/03/2013).

Even as a child, I wondered where the "dogwood" name originated. Well, it's from the Scandanavian word "dags," meaning skewers. The skewers were made from the branches of Cornus and used to roast game in the old days! At first it was called "dagwood" but later changed to dogwood. When David Douglas found the Pacific Dogwood he thought it was the same as the eastern species; but in 1835 Thomas Nuttall found some differences, hence the scientific name. The hard wood of the eastern species is used to make textile shuttles, golf clubs, and piano keys.

The "osier" part of the common names comes from the middle English word for the tough but pliable willow branches used in basketry. That word originated from a French word meaning "river-bed." So finally we have a common name that makes sense!