Red-twig dogwood tolerates a range of soil conditions, including wet and dry sites, and is also air pollution tolerant. It grows vigorously and spreads by underground stems to form a colony that can become weedy in some areas, though its spreading roots can help mitigate erosion. Its showy red stems provide great winter interest. They work well as a specimen or massed in a shrub border, or used in front of an evergreen hedge for contrast. They tolerate wet areas so they can be planted in low spots in landscapes.