Isanti is a compact cultivar of the native red osier dogwood that is denser and more compact than the species. Like the species, it produces small white flowers in spring, white fruits beloved by birds in summer, reddish foliage in fall and bright red stems in winter. Many gardeners remove the oldest stems in early spring, because the younger ones provide 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.