Bailey Red Twig Dogwood, Redosier Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood

Beware the tags stating height of the cultivar, they are not always correct!

I planted the 'Arctic Fire' red osier "compa...Read Morect form" about 4 years ago. It was stated to grow 36" to 48" max. I planted three of them and they came in the Proven Winners tubs from our reputable local nursery; highly unlikely that all three were mislabeled?

The shrubs are indeed magnificent in performance, twig color and flowering, but they've been growing to over 7' for the past few years and it is a constant job of removing the longer branches (you can't trim dogwood from the top, you have to take out the whole twig from the base) which makes them a bit lopsided and unattractive, although new growth does follow vigorously. They will now require transplanting to some new location that can handle their height.

They are now the exact same size as my regular Bailey's Red Twig osier dogwood, although slightly less branching in habit. Great plant, false advertising.

Bailey Redosier Dogwood is a natural variety that has some hair under the leaves and on twigs and that does not ground sucker like the re...Read Moregular species. Nurserymen in the Midwest USA have sold it for some decades. It is a good looking larger shrub where the stems turn red in winter, it gets a good red fall color, bears white flower clusters in May for pollinators and bears white fruit loved by birds. Like other such red-twigged dogwood shrubs, the larger stems should be removed low to the ground every few years so that the stems don't turn brown-gray. Never shear.

I chose this based only on "Red Twig Dogwood" name and wanted the neat little bundle of red twigs that I see along the highways in the wi...Read Moreld. Instead I have a 6 foot shrub that I've had to prune back several times to keep it off the steps, etc. I guess I forgot to read the tag that said "Height 8-10 feet". But I can't say it didn't thrive in this climate!

I have two and they are hardy, but have remained rather small in our climate. They receive mostly indirect sunlight. I would say they a...Read Morere a nice, controlled addition but not a "showstopper".