Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Cornaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis is a native California shrub in the Cornaceae family, recognized by Subspecies-level differences require close examination of leaf undersides and fruit stones.
Red-osier dogwood is a California native shrub found in the California Floristic Province in moist habitats at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small white flowers with petals 3 to 4.5 millimeters long. Growing with multiple stems 1 to 3 meters tall, it forms dense thickets in riparian areas. Its leaves are dense and rough-textured on the underside, creating a distinctive tactile and visual appearance. The fruit develops with a stone generally marked by three ridges on its faces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Subspecies-level differences require close examination of leaf undersides and fruit stones
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally moist places
Elevation: < 2500 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Riverside, Glenn, San Bernardino, Tulare, Kern, Santa Barbara, Placer, San Diego, Sonoma, Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Humboldt, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, San Benito, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Monterey, Plumas, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, Alpine, Butte, Sierra, Colusa, Alameda, Tehama, Del Norte, Inyo, Lake
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana
Bloom period
Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Cornus has opposite leaves and 4-parted flowers; cherry has alternate leaves and 5-parted flowers.; vs Sambucus: Cornus has simple opposite leaves; elderberry has opposite compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets.; vs Rhamnus: Cornus has 4-parted flowers; buckthorn has 5-parted flowers with petals often smaller than sepals.; vs Philadelphus: Cornus has 4-parted flowers and opposite simple leaves; mock orange has 4-5 petals and shredding bark.; vs Magnolia: Cornus has opposite leaves and small 4-parted flowers; magnolia has alternate leaves and large showy flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis native to California?
Yes. Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis bloom?
Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis grow?
Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis occurs in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Riverside, Glenn, San Bernardino, Tulare, Kern, Santa Barbara and other counties, at elevations of < 2500 m.
What plant family does Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis belong to?
Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis is in the Cornaceae family, genus Cornus.
What habitat does Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis grow in?
Cornus sericea subsp. occidentalis grows in Generally moist places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.