Dark red branches
Damp wetland soil
Dense thickets
In its dormant season, the shrubby twig color of red osier dogwood becomes a dominant landscape feature along certain flowing streams. The white snow background effectively isolates the attractive winter stems.
“Known as cansasa in Lakota, the inner bark was also used by the Lakota and other Native Americans as “traditional tobacco”, either by itself or in a mixture with other plant materials.” – Charles L. Cutler