Vibrant stem add-ons perfect for enhancing your winter outdoor landscape
For those seeking to add dynamic year-round interest to their gardens, a selection of Cornus cultivars stands out as excellent choices. These dogwoods combine multi-season leaf color changes with striking winter stems, creating a visual spectacle throughout the year.
Bold Winter Stem Colour
Among the most notable are the Siberian Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’) and the Redosier Dogwood (Cornus sericea). Both are renowned for their bold winter stem color. The Siberian Dogwood boasts striking red winter stems that stand out vividly after leaf drop, while the Redosier Dogwood offers brilliant red stems in winter.
The Siberian Dogwood's foliage starts lime green in spring, matures to dark green through summer, and turns red in autumn before falling, revealing the colorful stems. It typically grows 2.5m tall and 1m wide and benefits from annual pruning to maintain stem color and shape [1]. The Redosier Dogwood, on the other hand, grows quickly up to 7-9 feet tall, spreads wide, and thrives in wet or moist sites. Spring pruning promotes bright new stems, enhancing winter interest [5].
Enhanced Fall Foliage and Variegation
A more recent addition to the dogwood family is the 'Sgt. Pepper®' cultivar, admired for its unique variegated foliage with green, white, and pink tones that shift dramatically to red and deep pink in the fall. After leaf drop, it boasts vibrant burgundy stems that add subtle winter color, making it highly decorative year-round. It is hardy, deer-resistant, and adaptable to various soils [2].
Compact Spaces and Variegated Leaves
For those with smaller gardens, the variegated Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata' is less vigorous and ideal. It grows to 1.2m and can be left unpruned, making it an excellent mixer with perennials, roses, and other shrubs. Its foliage features pleasing green-and-white variegated leaves, flushed with purple-pink, rich autumn foliage, and dark red winter stems [6].
Another compact option is the variegated Cornus controversa 'Variegata' Franz type'. This more vigorous form of the wedding cake dogwood tree features grey-green leaves with narrow white margins [8]. It grows to a height of 5m [9].
Winter Fruits and Early Summer Flowers
Two other cultivars offer additional attractions. Cornus mas 'Variegata' features tiny, golden flowers on bare stems in late winter before the white and green leaves unfurl, and produces scarlet fruits in autumn. Its variegated foliage, defined green and white leaves, and yellow, fluffy flowers on bare branches in late winter make it a delightful addition [10].
Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea' is smaller in stature than Cornus controversa 'Variegata', with dark stems and sage and white leaves. It offers lacy, white flowers in early summer and grows to a height of 3m. The cherry-like fruits that develop in autumn are an added bonus [11].
Hardiness and Pruning
All these dogwood cultivars are hardy and adaptable to various soils, thriving best in full sun to part shade. If growing cornus for colorful winter stems, prune in late winter or early spring - February or March. Pruning at this time will keep the stems compact and colorful the following winter [4]. However, do not prune cornus after it has started into leaf [7].
Cornus alba 'Gouchaltii' and Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata' have hardiness ratings of RHS H7, while Cornus controversa 'Variegata' Franz type' and Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea' have hardiness ratings of RHS H6 and RHS H5, respectively [3][6][11].
In conclusion, these Cornus cultivars offer a wide range of options for those seeking to add year-round interest to their gardens. From bold winter stem color to enhanced fall foliage and variegation, these dogwoods are sure to captivate and delight.
- The Sibling Dogwood ('Cornus controversa' 'Variegata' Franz type') is a more vigorous option, featuring grey-green leaves with narrow white margins and growing to a height of 5m, making it an attractive addition for larger gardens.
- Cornus mas 'Variegata' offers two unique attractions: tiny, golden flowers on bare stems in late winter, and scarlet fruits in autumn. The variegated foliage, defined green and white leaves, and yellow, fluffy flowers in late winter make it a delightful choice for adding color to the winter landscape.
- Although the 'Sgt. Pepper®' cultivar may require additional pruning to maintain its shape and showcase the colorful stems, its unique variegated foliage with green, white, and pink tones, combined with a vibrant burgundy stem color in winter, offers an eye-catching display in a variety of lifestyle and home-and-garden settings.
