Red Osier Dogwood vs Thunderchild Flowering Crab - TreeTime.ca

Red Osier Dogwood vs Thunderchild Flowering Crab

Cornus sericea

Malus x adstringens Thunderchild

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Red Osier Dogwood
Thunderchild Flowering Crab

Red Osier Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub that features deep red stems and twigs year-round, with creamy white flowers in the spring. This shrub will add a nice pop of color to your yard.

Red Osier Dogwood is an excellent soil stabilizer. It is fast growing and becomes drought tolerant once well established.

Thunderchild Flowering Crab is a hybrid crab apple known for its attractive and fragrant dark pink blossoms and deep purple mature leaves.

Tree farmers will find this hybrid appealing as a pollinator for other apples, while home growers will enjoy the red pome's ability to attract flocks of Cedar Waxwings in the early spring.

This species is reportedly resistant to fireblight.

Red Osier Dogwood Quick Facts

Thunderchild Flowering Crab Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Foliage: dark purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Fall colour: dark red
Bark: dark red, showy
Flowers: white
Flowers: dark pink blossoms
Fruit: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Berries: white waxy
Berries: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no

In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: american dogwood, california dogwood, creek dogwood, dogberry tree, red dogwood, red twig dogwood, redosier dogwood, redstem dogwood, western dogwood