Vibrant stems serve as an appealing enhancement for your winter-time floral arrangement
In the world of garden plants, the Cornus genus, or dogwoods, stands out for their unique combination of attractive foliage and colorful winter stems. Here are some of the best cultivars that offer this captivating display.
First on our list is the Siberian Dogwood, or Cornus alba 'Sibirica'. This cultivar is renowned for its vivid red winter stems, which contrast beautifully with the foliage that emerges lime green in spring, darkens to green, and turns red in autumn before shedding. To ensure the brightest red stems, it's recommended to prune older stems annually, leaving younger, brightly colored ones exposed[1].
A variegated version of 'Sibirica' is Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata'. This cultivar offers the same dramatic winter stem color but with the added visual interest of variegated leaves[1]. Another variegated cultivar, Cornus alba 'Crmizam' (Creme de Mint™), boasts light green leaves edged cream, providing a vibrant foliage contrast along with the signature red stems[3].
For those looking for a more compact variety, Cornus alba 'Siberica Variegata' is a great choice, growing to just 1.2m tall. It's less vigorous, making it ideal for smaller gardens, and it thrives on any soil in sun or shade[2]. Another compact option is Cornus alba 'Gouchaltii', which features dark-red stems in winter, thrives on any soil, and excels in wet conditions. However, it requires hard pruning every two years to 20cm[6].
Cornus mas 'Variegata' is another standout cultivar, known for its tiny, golden flowers on bare stems in late winter, before the white and green leaves unfurl. It also produces scarlet fruits in autumn and grows to a height of 3m[5]. Another variegated dogwood, Cornus controversa 'Variegata Franz type', boasts grey-green leaves with narrow white margins and is more vigorous than 'Variegata'. It's better suited for more challenging growing conditions[4].
It's essential to prune cornus at the correct time to maintain their compact form and vibrant winter stems. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring (February or March)[7]. For the first prune, let your cornus establish for three to four years before cutting back to between 7cm and 10cm from the ground[7].
For a more detailed guide on pruning dogwoods, check out our dedicated article. Happy gardening!
Footnotes:
[1] RHS (2021). Cornus alba 'Sibirica'. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/41492/Cornus-alba-Sibirica/Details
[2] RHS (2021). Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata'. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/41493/Cornus-alba-Sibirica-Variegata/Details
[3] RHS (2021). Cornus alba 'Crmizam'. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/41494/Cornus-alba-Crmizam/Details
[4] RHS (2021). Cornus controversa 'Variegata Franz type'. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/41495/Cornus-controversa-Variegata-Franz-type/Details
[5] RHS (2021). Cornus mas 'Variegata'. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/41496/Cornus-mas-Variegata/Details
[6] RHS (2021). Cornus alba 'Gouchaltii'. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/24717/Cornus-alba-Gouchaltii/Details
[7] RHS (2021). Pruning Dogwoods. [online] Available at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=727
- The Siberian Dogwood, Cornus alba 'Sibirica', is a standout in the home-and-garden landscape, featuring vivid red winter stems that contrast with its lime green spring foliage, dark green summer foliage, and red autumn foliage.
- In the world of gardens, the compact and less vigorous Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata' is an ideal choice for smaller gardens, offering white-edged variegated leaves and a more manageable height of 1.2 meters.
- For those seeking a dogwood cultivar that showcases golden flowers on bare stems in late winter, followed by white and green leaves and scarlet fruits in autumn, the Cornus mas 'Variegata' is a compelling addition to any lifestyle and landscape.
