The Bailey dogwood is a cultivar of the native redosier dogwood and is notable for its bright red winter stems. It does not have the stoloniferous (spreading) habit of the species. In late spring it produces small white flowers held in flattened clusters which attract butterflies. The white fruit attracts birds later in the season. It has reddish-purple leaves in fall and later in the year its red stems provide contrast against a white winter background. Renewal or rejuvenation pruning in early spring/late winter encourages growth of new stems, which have the best color.

Members of the genus Cornus, commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multi-season interest -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species.

Dogwoods are native to cooler temperate areas of North America and Asia. The genus includes 45-60 species, divided into subgenera about which taxonomists disagree. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes almost 100 varieties of dogwood from 20 species (7 of which are native) and over 2,400 plants.