Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is in the Dogwood family family (Cornaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,681 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Red Osier Dogwood: observations by month (U.S.)
About Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea, the red osier or red-osier dogwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cornaceae, native to much of North America. It has sometimes been considered a synonym of the Asian species Cornus alba. Other names include red brush, red willow, redstem dogwood, redtwig dogwood, red-rood, American dogwood, creek dogwood, and western dogwood.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Red Osier Dogwood by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 533 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Washington | 195 | May | May–May |
| Oregon | 175 | May | May–May |
| Vermont | 125 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 113 | May | May–Aug |
| Minnesota | 78 | May | May–Jul |
| Idaho | 58 | June | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 51 | May | May–Jul |
| Maine | 50 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Montana | 44 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Utah | 42 | June | Apr–Sep |
| New York | 29 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 29 | May | May–May |
| South Dakota | 28 | June | May–Aug |
| Colorado | 26 | June | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 19 | May | May–Jul |
| Indiana | 18 | May | May–May |
| New Mexico | 12 | May | May–Jun |
| North Dakota | 12 | June | May–Aug |
| Alaska | 10 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 9 | May | May–Jun |
| Nevada | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Dogwood family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Red Osier Dogwood?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to August.
Where is Red Osier Dogwood most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Washington, Oregon.