Cornus sericea 'Budds Yellow' (21/01/2012, Kew, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 4m
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 3a – 8b
Family: Cornaceae
Cornus sericea ‘Budds Yellow’ is a fast growing, medium sized deciduous shrub with attractive winter stems. Its dark green leaves are opposite, ovate, rounded at the base with a pointy tip and up to 10cm long. In autumn the leaves may turn bright yellow/ red/ purple, depending on weather conditions. The young stems of this plant are yellow in winter becoming bright green in summer, younger stems are brighter than older stems. The flowers are small, produced in clusters and dull white in color. The fruit of the plant is a globose white berry which is up to 1cm in diameter. This shrub spreads via underground stolons.
The species Cornus sericea ‘Budds Yellow’, commonly known as Red Willow, Redstem Dogwood, Redtwig Dogwood, Creek Dogwood, Western Dogwood and American Dogwood, is native throughout northern and western North America. Cornus sericea ‘Budds Yellow’ is commonly known as Budds Yellow Dogwood.
Cornus sericea 'Budds Yellow' stem (21/01/2012, Kew, London)
The etymological root of the binomial Cornus is from the Latin cornum meaning ‘horn’ due to its dense properties. Sericea is derived from the Latin sericus ‘silky’.
The landscape architect may find Cornus sericea ‘Budds Yellow’ useful for its attractive coloured winter stems. This plant looks fantastic when planted en mass. It may be trained as a hedge. This plant will tolerate moist conditions.
Ecologically, C. sericea ‘Budds Yellow’ is of interest to bird who are attracted to it for its fruit.
C. sericea ‘Budds Yellow’ prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils, although it will tolerate wet soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
C. sericea ‘Budds Yellow’ requires little maintenance. This plant may be stooled in spring on a regular basis to promote bright young stems.
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