Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus stolonifera
This plant has a typical dogwood leaf that can be identified even in the winter because of its red stems. It is one of the most common Northwest shrubs.
Red osier dogwood grows in a dense mixture along along wetlands and stream channels, often in association with other plants including red elder, black twinberry, wild crabapple, salmon berry, and rose nootkana.
Although the berries are bitter, they were eaten by interior Native Americans and used in a variety of medicinal preparations.
