Is this red osier?

[lebhuntfish]

Just as the title says. My boss has a bunch of this growing around his house. If it is red osier,  I'm going to cut all the shafts I can find because he wants to cut them way back he says they are taking over. Thanks guy's.

Patrick

[Pat B]

Looks like red osier to me, Patrick...or it could be silky dogwood. I don't know which grows in your area. They both have red stems.

[Swampman]

It looks like the red osier we have around here. 

[Tracker0721]

If that's red osier then I'm in heaven. The creek has that stuff overflowing all the way till it runs into the river 5 miles away. I'm going collecting! How can you tell it apart from other red limbed shoots though?

[lebhuntfish]

Looks like red osier to me, Patrick...or it could be silky dogwood. I don't know which grows in your area. They both have red stems.

Pat I'm pretty sure red osier is not native to my area. My boss said he bought these some 20 years ago but don't remember the name.

If they are silky dogwood, would they be good arrow shafts?

Patrick

[crooketarrow]

  Yep

[Pat B]

Its been years since I've tried silky. I have sourwood(my preference) and hill cane so silky is at least a third. It should work fine Patrick.

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks everyone,  I'm going to go cut all I can find. He said there is a bunch of them so hopefully there will be some good shafts in the mix. I'll let ya'll know what I get.

Patrick

[PEARL DRUMS]

Look for second growth Patrick. Usually that means a main trunk around 1" round to make second growth 3/8 or better at the "point end". Just something to watch for if you have that much to choose from. It grows like weeds up here. I could cut 200 in an afternoon if I wanted to.

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks Chris,  I'll do that. I've always tried to cut the older stuff when I find it. This is the only one I've seen around that I can remember.

Patrick

[Buck67]

The straightest Red Osier that I have been able to find grows in deep shade.  You have to bushwhack back into the thicket to find the good stuff.  It straightens pretty well with heat.  Just avoid the ones with a hard kink.

By the way.  A common name for Red Osier is Kinnikinnick.  The bark was dried and mixed with tobacco and other herbs as a smoking blend.  The smell is certainly distinctive.

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks buck. I'll remember that!

Patrick

[MWirwicki]

Patrick, that looks like the red osier that I have on my property.  It makes nice shafts.  The new or second growth is usually the straightest and requires less correction.

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks Matt,  newer shoots is more likely what they are. My boss cuts them back every year.

Patrick