Red Twig Dogwood

About this plant

Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi', often called Dwarf Red Twig Dogwood, is a superb choice for adding year-round color to your landscape. This dense, mounding deciduous shrub features bright green foliage throughout spring and summer, providing a lush backdrop in garden beds or borders. Its true spectacle, however, emerges in the cooler months as its leaves drop to reveal an intricate network of intensely ruby-red stems, glowing against snow or gray skies. Ideal for mass plantings, foundation plantings, or as a vibrant accent, 'Kelseyi' offers dynamic visual appeal. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens, containers, or areas where its larger relatives might overwhelm. Enjoy its subtle white flowers in late spring, which mature into charming white berries, providing a food source for local birds. Beyond its aesthetic charm, this cultivar is remarkably robust and adaptable. It thrives in a variety of conditions and is known for its excellent cold hardiness. Regular pruning helps maintain its compact form and encourages the most intense stem coloration, ensuring a stunning display each winter.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates a range of soil types, including clay. For the best stem color, prune back 1/3 to 1/2 of the oldest stems to the ground in late winter or early spring every 2-3 years. This encourages new, more vibrant growth. Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring if growth is slow. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.