How to Germinate Red Twig Dogwood

Germinating red twig dogwood seeds can be a bit hit and miss. The plant's seeds can sit in the ground for more than a year before they start to grow, if they germinate at all. Once they have germinated, they’re very hardy plants that look good in a garden throughout the year. There are a few steps you can take to make successful germination more likely.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Sand
• Tray
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Collect red twig dogwood seeds when your plant begins to bear fruit in late spring. Because the fruit of this plant is poisonous, you should wear gloves while doing so.

2. Place the seeds in a tray filled with moist sand and cover it with plastic wrap. Put the tray in the refrigerator for at least 90 days to prepare the seeds for germination. Mark the tray with a sign that says, "Do Not Eat! Poison!"

3. Plant the seeds in an area of your garden that receives a mixture of direct sunlight and shade at different times of the day. Get your seeds in the ground by late fall.

4. Apply a 1-inch layer of compost to the ground around the seeds and water them every other day.

Tips & Warnings

• Planting cuttings from red twig dogwood branches is a lot quicker than germinating the plant from seeds.

References

• Shelby County Tennessee: Dogwoods for American Gardens