Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea', yellow twig dogwood
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Deciduous Shrubs

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'

yellow twig dogwood

Cornaceae

Cultivar of garden origin; species native throughout temperate North America

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitSpreading
FoliageDeciduous
Height6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m)
Width6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

2 - 8
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' (yellow-twig dogwood) is a cultivar of the native red-osier dogwood grown for its brilliant chartreuse-yellow to golden-yellow winter stems — a striking counterpart to the vivid red stems of the species. It reaches 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) tall and wide, slightly less vigorous than the species, forming a multi-stemmed, suckering shrub. The stem color is most saturated on young 1- and 2-year-old growth in winter: bright chartreuse to warm yellow-green, fading toward greener and duller on older wood. As with all stem-color dogwoods, annual hard coppicing in late winter (cutting all stems to 6–12 inches / 15–30 cm from the ground) is essential to maintain the display — without it, the shrub fills with older green-gray stems. In late May through June, flat-topped corymbs of small creamy-white flowers attract pollinators; white berries follow in late summer. Fall foliage tends to be a softer purple-yellow rather than the more vivid burgundy of the species in full sun. Culture is identical to Cornus sericea: excellent for wet, moist, or poorly drained sites. Most effective when planted adjacent to red-stemmed Cornus sericea or coral Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' for a contrasting winter stem combination. DB note: url_2 for this record incorrectly links to the GPP page for Cornus kousa (ID 410) — that link is not included here.

Native Range

Cornus sericea is native throughout temperate North America. 'Flaviramea' is a cultivar selected for yellow-green winter stems, of European garden origin.

Suggested Uses

Grown for vivid chartreuse-yellow winter stem color in moist or wet landscape settings — an invaluable companion to Cornus sericea (deep red stems) and Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' (coral stems) for a multi-color winter stem tapestry. Equally effective in rain gardens, stream banks, and wet borders where the moist conditions suit its needs perfectly. The yellow stems are particularly effective against dark evergreen backgrounds or as a bright winter accent in gray PNW winter light. Plant in bold masses of 5 or more for maximum winter impact.

How to Identify

Identified in winter by bright chartreuse to golden-yellow stems — distinctly different from the deep red of the species or the coral-red of Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'. In summer, identical to the species in leaf — oval opposite leaves with parallel curved dogwood venation. Flat-topped creamy-white flower clusters in late May through June; white berries in late summer. The suckering multi-stemmed habit is the same as the species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 8'
Width/Spread6' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow
purple

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
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Spring
Blooms late May through June with flat-topped corymbs 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) across of small creamy-white four-petaled flowers. White berries 0.25 inch (6 mm) ripen in August through September, attracting birds. The primary ornamental feature is the chartreuse-yellow winter stems on hard-coppiced plants, most vivid from November through March.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

creamy white (in flat-topped clusters)

Foliage Description

medium green in summer; soft purple-yellow in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysilt
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Care is identical to Cornus sericea: plant in full sun to part shade in moist to wet soil. Annual hard coppicing in late winter (February through March) — cutting all stems to 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) from the ground — is the essential practice for maintaining vivid yellow stem color; only 1- and 2-year-old stems are bright yellow, older stems are dull gray-green. Stem color is most vibrant in full sun; shade reduces color intensity. Tolerates flooding, clay, and wet conditions. Control spreading suckers annually. Slightly less vigorous and spreading than the straight species, making it somewhat easier to manage in confined spaces.

Pruning

Hard coppice annually in late winter (February through March): cut all stems to 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) from the ground. This is the essential practice for bright yellow winter stems. On a 3-year rotation (removing only the oldest one-third of stems annually), some flowering and fruiting is maintained while preserving stem color on younger wood. Remove suckering stems at the perimeter to control spread.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

moderate

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets