Red Twig Dogwood Oozing White Substance: Spittlebugs or Borers?

Identifying the "Milky Goo"

Two common culprits cause white exudate on red twig dogwoods (Cornus sericea):

Borers tunnel into stems, causing sap flow.
Look for entry holes, frass, or dieback.
Requires professional diagnosis—contact your county extension (e.g., McHenry County, IL).

Regardless of pest issues, hard pruning in early spring maximizes the bright red winter stems that make this shrub valuable:

Unpruned plants lose vigor and stem color fades over time.

Perennials: Propagating Red Twig Dogwood: Cuttings, Layering, and Suckers; Identifying "Red Apollo" Rose: Likely a Renamed Variety; Red Twig Dogwood Covered in Flaky Gray Growth: Armored Scale Infestation; Red‑Twig Dogwood Pruning for Maximum Winter Color; Ants on Red Twig Dogwood: Aphid Farmers; Red Twig Dogwood Transplant Shock and Pruning; Variegated Red Twig Dogwood Under Maples; Transplanting Red Twig Dogwood: Timing and Root Stimulator; Dogwood 'Red Twig': Coral‑Red Winter Stems for Seasonal Interest; Red Twig Dogwood in Georgia: Hit or Miss?

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