Cornus (sericea)

Wayne Crowder Assistant Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211H Hulbert Hall Pullman, Washington 99164 509-335-6894 509-335-2940 (fax) crowder@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Cornaceae
Family Common Name:	Dogwood family
Scientific Name:	Cornus sericea L.
Common Synonym:	Cornus stolonifera Michx.
Common Name:	redosier dogwood
Species Code:	CORSER
Ecotype:	Cheney, WA
General Distribution:	Alaska to Yukon Territory east to Laborador and Newfoundland. It extends south to Virginia in the east, to Kansas, northern Mexico in the Rocky Mountains and through California to the West Coast.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	vegetative
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cubic inch container
Time To Grow:	15 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Cohesive root plug
Propagule Collection:	Collect semi-hardwood tip cuttings in late May or early June. Cuttings should be about 6 to 8 inches long, with at least 1 node, or possibly 2. Cut far enough below the last node to allow for insertion in the rooting media. Leave all leaves on the top node of the cutting.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Treat cuttings with a fungicide drench. Allow cuttings to drain moisture somewhat prior to treating with rooting hormone. We use 0.3% Indole-butyric acid rooting powder to treat the cut end about 1/2 inch up the stem. Cuttings are stuck in coarse horticultural perlite.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Plants are rooted in 4 inch deep metal flats with bottom drain holes. Flats are set on rubber heating mats which are regulated to keep rooting media temperature at around 78 deg F. Misting is set for 15 seconds of mist every 15 minutes. 24 hr/day metal halide lamps are used. Room air temperature is kept at about 68 deg F.
Hardening Phase:	Move plants to hardening mist table without bottom heat after the cuttings have 3 to 4 roots at least 1/4 inch long. Plant in a well drained potting mix, such as Sunshine #4. Increase interval between mistings to harden plants prior to placing in a general growth facility.
Length of Hardening Phase:	1 to 2 weeks
References:	Crane, M.F. 1989. Cornus sericea. IN: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis [2006, Sept. 11] Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. 1981. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. of Washington Press, Seattle Macdonald, B. 1986. Practical woody plant propagation for nursery growers. Vol. 1. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Citation:

Crowder, Wayne. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Cornus sericea L. plants 10 cubic inch container; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.