Kelsey Dwarf Dogwood

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 8

Kelsey Dwarf is the perfect Dogwood for smaller sized gardens. Its compact, ground-hugging shape makes it a winner as a small specimen at the front of a garden bed or used in large groups as edging. Cornus sericea ‘Kelsey’ has many of the same attributes that The taller Red Twig Dogwoods have. The leaves are deciduous with a nice fall color. Masses of bright red stems through the winter make it a great focal point for the garden in winter. Kelsey has an easy-care, low-growing, mounded shape that needs far less pruning to keep its shape.

Wildlife are attracted to Dwarf Dogwood. Native bees and butterflies adore the nectar at flowering, while songbirds will flock to the berries through the late summer. An added attraction for wildlife is the thick growth of leaves low to the ground. This provides a needed resting or hiding spot during the day for animals such as frogs and toads.

Kelsey Dwarf Dogwood Care

Dogwoods thrive on average, well-drained soil. A wide range of pH is tolerated. Fertilizer is almost never needed for this native cultivar. Too much feeding will produce lots of weak, disease susceptible leaves and very few flower stems. Kelsey Dwarf Dogwood will survive in either a wet location or somewhere on the drier side. Often this variety is chosen for planting in the middle zone of a Rain Garden. It tolerates wet feet in the winter and dryness throughout the summer.

Pruning is only needed in the early spring if there has been any damage from the winter or if the stems' red color has started to fade. Pruning out of dead, diseased, dying and diagonal stems is done for yearly maintenance. Once every 2-3 years a hard cut back of the oldest stems can be done to encourage new vigorous red shoots. Deer and rabbit resistance is good.

Kelsey Dwarf Dogwood Spacing

Proper spacing of Dwarf Dogwoods is very important to keep this shrub disease and pest free. The overall height is 2-3 feet and a width of 2-3 feet. Planting 3 feet, center on center, will allow for good air circulation and proper branch formation.