Kelsey's Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi')

🌱

☀️

Sunlight Partial sun to full sun; full sun promotes brightest winter stem color, tolerates light shade in hot climates

💧

Watering Water deeply when the top 5 cm of soil dries out; avoid waterlogging to prevent root rot

🌡️

Temperature Extremely cold-hardy; tolerates summer heat with consistent soil moisture

🔍

Leaf: Opposite, simple oval leaves; medium green foliage turning reddish-purple in autumn
Flower: Clusters of small, creamy white flat-topped inflorescences
Stem: Slender, bright red stems that remain prominent during winter dormancy

🛠️

Watering

Keep soil consistently moist during active growth

Fertilization

Light application of balanced organic feed in early spring. Avoid over-fertilizing to prevent leggy, weak stem growth

Composted banana peel tea：Steep fully composted banana peels in water for 24 hours; dilute 1:20 for root drench to avoid nutrient burn

Pruning

Prune one-third of old stems in late winter to encourage bright new red growth
Remove dead, damaged, or overcrowded branches in early spring to improve airflow
Trim to maintain compact mound shape after flowering if needed

⚠️

Warning: this plant may be toxic.

Pets & Humans

Pets: ASPCA confirmed non-toxic to cats; no reported toxicity symptoms

Humans: Non-toxic to humans; no known adverse health effects from ingestion or contact

📖

Culture: Red winter stems symbolize winter resilience and subtle seasonal beauty

Usage: Ornamental groundcover, winter interest planting, slope erosion control