Cornus stolonifera

The American Dogwood or Red Stem Dogwood, Cornus stolonifera, is an elegant open shrub with creamy white flower clusters in spring and red stems.  It can be found in moist areas, in sun or shade. It is often found along the banks of streams or other riparian habitats. The Red Stem Dogwood has green foliage and is deciduous in winter, exposing its attractive red bark. This dogwood is a must for winter interest in the garden, is lovely in the spring when the plant is covered with clusters of creamy flowers, and is perfect adjacent to a lawn as a backdrop. Along a real or artificial stream bed, this dogwood is in its element, becoming a shrub up to 12 feet high and as wide or wider, growing best with afternoon shade. This fruit of this dogwood attracts many birds. 

Red Stem Dogwood is very effective for stream bank erosion control.

Cornus sericea ssp. occidentalis is nearly identical to C. stolonifera, they vary only in small taxonomic ways such as the shape of the hairs on the leaf, and the ridges or the absence of, on the seed, etc. Syn: Cornus sericea ssp. sericea.