Cornus alba, C. sanguinea, C. sericea
Would you wish to know my enigma for creating the consummate wintertime arrangements , place decor , and wreaths ? That ’s good , branches from my red branchlet dogwoods .
As a Scandinavian - American , turn out in the heart of wintertime and heighten in the Northern Hemisphere , it ’s no surprise that I greet the cold-blooded season with a squeal of excitement . Yes , I ’m one of those mass . Do n’t hate me because I ’m wintry .
This also means Ilivefor wintertime decorate , whether it ’s inside my home or outside on the porch and in my gardens . I ’m always looking for ways to adorn my spaces that highlight the beauty of the chilly season while creating a welcoming and cozy air for all to delight .
Photo by Tabitha Caswell.
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Back in my 20s I got serious about the art of wintertime interior decoration . I want to take the valuable coronal - making acquirement my mother teach me to a gamy stratum .
So I begin to study the individual piece of what represent attractive , eye - catching display . And I made an important discovery : red twig dogwood tree .
Photo by Tabitha Caswell.
Red sprig dogwoods are deciduous shrubs in theCornusgenus . Depending on where you exist in the domain , you’re able to line up reddened sprig varieties and cultivars of various coinage in the genus .
In this article , I ’ll be covering the coinage most commonly grown in place gardens : C. alba , C. sanguinea , andC. sericea .
The moment I identified this group of plants as an constitutional player in the wintertime interior decoration and horticulture game , I felt like I ’d won the lottery .
At first , back then , I would go to with child lengths to salvage and eatage in forests for the vibrant red branchlet – hiking across theater of operations , mucking through swamps . It was a destiny of employment . So when I finally had my own land to cultivate my dearest plant life pal , these dogwood tree in spades made the list of must - rich person .
Today , in my garden , I have three different type of scarlet branchlet dogwoods maturate , and I ’m go to share all about how to grow and like for these vibrant shrubs .
Here ’s a quick overview of what I ’ll cover in this clause :
What You’ll Learn
If you ’re quick to take your winter horticulture to the next point with red branchlet dogwood , let ’s skip over right in !
What Is Red Twig Dogwood?
Cornusis a genus in the Coraceae family of bloom trees and shrubs known for their attractive heyday and their classifiable , vibrantly colored bark .
There are or so 50 unlike species within the genus and the colors of their barque range from acid green , to orange , yellow-bellied , and red . Most of the types ordinarily referred to as “ red sprig dogwoods ” are from the speciesC. alba , C. sanguinea , andC. sericea .
The hopeful or deep red colour of the barque is most pronounced in younger stem and most often discovered or noticeable during the winter after the bush have dropped their leaves .
away from the name red twig dogwood , each of the three coinage goes by several other common names .
C. albais alsoknown as tartarian or tatarian cornel , red - barked , Siberian , and white - berry dogwood . It ’s aboriginal to Siberia , northern China , and the Korean peninsula .
C. albawas antecedently relegate asC. pumilaandSwida albaso you may sometimes see it labeled with these synonyms .
C. sanguinea , also live as common cornel , sometimes goes by rake sprig , European , and swamp dogwood tree . This species is aboriginal to Europe and western Asia .
C. sericeais commonly known as flushed osier or American cornel , as it ’s aboriginal to North America . Additionally , it is sometimes mistaken forC. alba .
There are a large figure of diverseness and cultivars within these three specie , and not all of them feature the red limb that give them the moniker “ red branchlet cornel . ” In this clause , we ’ll focus on the red twig types .
In general , these shrubs can rate anywhere between four to 15 feet tall and from three to 15 infantry wide at maturity . They reach full maturity date within about five to 10 eld .
blood-red branchlet dogwoods begin their yearly growth hertz in spring with buds that open into bunch of small , blank flower , attracting bees and butterfly . As summer approaching , these efflorescence give way to white or bluish - light-green berries , which are democratic with skirt .
Leaves emerge to a lush solid unripened , or subtle refinement of gold . Some cultivar have variegated foliage with attractive white , cream , or yellow with unripened combinations .
Come fall , the leaves transform into shadowiness of deep Au , orangish , purple , and red offering a superb fall display . In winter , the foliation falls away to reveal the key signature bright dark-skinned root , create strike visual interest against a snowy or lackluster backdrop .
This seasonal advance showcases the varied decorative quality of the red twig dogwoods throughout the year . These shrubs are scummy maintenance and grow successfully inUSDA Hardiness Zones2 to 8 , bet on the mintage .
We ’ll cover more on concern and upkeep later , but it ’s worth mentioning here that to produce those coveted red-faced twig , even pruning is necessary to refresh the growth because the youngest subdivision are also the most brightly colored .
Before we move to deal , though , let ’s search the history and stock of these beauties .
Cultivation and History
The beauty of red twig cornel only showcases one side of its personality . Culturally , it boasts a account of functional uses .
Native Americans used the bark ofC. sericeain dye and field goal weaving , and they also added it to their smoke tobacco . The strong branch made tremendous handgrip for prick .
These shrubs process well in riparian zones , shelterbelts , woodlots , and many other expanse targeted for bionomical reclamation and naturalisation . They stabilize the soil , attract pollinators , and feast wildlife , making them an ideal plant for agroforestry blueprint .
While birds and diminished mammal might enjoy the berries of red branchlet dogwoods , you , as a human , might not . Although they are technically edible , they are bitter - tasting and can do GI distress .
First Nations peoples exhaust them but would often combine the Charles Edward Berry with other sweet-flavored fruits likeSaskatoon berry .
Now that we ’ve got a good musical theme of what red branchlet dogwood shrubs are , and why they ’re democratic , get ’s take a closer look , beginning with how to disseminate these plant .
Red Twig Dogwood Propagation
Red twig dogwoods can be propagated via a few unlike methods admit from seed , by taking cuttings , by division , and of course by transplanting a container - grown plant purchased from a reputable raiser .
From Seed
While it is possible to collect seeds and develop reddish branchlet dogwood plants from these seeds , the outgrowth is tricky , time - have , and unpredictable .
Many of the bush you purchase from nursery and nurseries are cultivate kind and seed will not grow on-key to the parent flora .
Additionally , red sprig bush growing in the wilderness have probably baffle - pollinated with neighboring dogwood .
If you ’re keen to call for semen and attempt growing a red twig cornel via this method , you ’ll call for to nibble the good Charles Edward Berry in gloam and dally them up to extract the seed .
The seed require dusty - stratification , which can either be achieve by lineal sow fresh seed outdoors in fall , or keeping them in the refrigerator for two to three months before sowing in spring .
After stratification , you’re able to sow the seeds in a shallow tray of potting soil or flat in the ground in spring . keep even wet in the filth .
When seedling have achieve about two column inch tall , pot them up into individual three- to six - column inch containers .
Once seedling have progress to six to eight inches marvelous , they can be planted out into the garden , ideally in spring or drop .
Learn more about how to start dogwoods from cum in our guidebook .
From Cuttings
A more reliable method of propagation is to take root press clipping .
you may take deal cuttings in leaping or summertime , or hardwood cuttings in fall , after the leaves have fallen from the plant .
Clip four- to six - in lengths of young stem , defoliate the bottom half , and douse the cut end in root hormone . Then adhere the dipped end into a shallow tray of potting dirt . It ’s best to start plenty , in case some of them break .
Keep the soil consistently moist and cover the tray with charge plate that let for some ventilation , propped up so it does n’t make tangency with the cutting . This will keep the immediate air around the new plants moist and affectionate .
aim them in a sunny location , with vivid , indirect brightness .
When you notice young growth , pot up the cutting into private three- to six - column inch containers . asseverate a reproducible layer of moisture without drown the root . Too much moisture can get rot .
Once the cuttings are about six to eight inches grandiloquent , you’re able to plant them out into the garden , rather in saltation or fall to avoid summertime heat .
Hardwood cutting are an even more reliable method of propagating red-faced branchlet cornel . This method is slow but is usually very successful .
First , take a sound take care vernal shoot that is less than a year old . hit the tip , then rationalize the twig into six- to nine - column inch lengths . Make a sporting , angled cut above a bud at the top of each section .
At the stem of each cutting make a square cut . This is the end that will be settle down . Dip this end in rooting hormone and gather it into a prepared trench outdoors .
Your trench should be made in well - enfeeble , fertile soil in a locating that is sheltered from the wind .
flummox the cuttings into the oceanic abyss so that about one third of the stalk pose above the grime , with at least two buds exposed . Firm the soil around the cuttings and maintain consistent moisture .
New aboveground development is indicative of successful root organisation , which may take several months , and at this distributor point , the clones can be transplant elsewhere if desired .
Many carmine twig dogwoods produce mug , and it ’s potential to separate these suckers to produce new plants .
Begin by digging cautiously confining to the field of the sucker you wish to remove from the parent plant .
Expose the section of solution you wish to separate . Cut the subdivision gratis from the parent works making sure to let in the stems and ascendant of the sucker . Fill in the hole where you take out the part and firm the grease at the base of the parent plant .
Next , take your mug , dress the aboveground increment by about half its original top . This will encourage new , vigorous development after transplant .
If your division is small , and you take it in the spring , you’re able to nurture it in a container during the summertime before plant out in the fall if you care .
Because these are vigorous agriculturist , it ’s o.k. to plant division directly in the ground as long as you run to their need as required .
Transplanting
The easiest room to get started with a cherry-red branchlet dogwood is to purchase a shrub from a greenhouse or nursery and transplant it into the garden in other spring or fall . I ’ll take the air you through the outgrowth .
First , be sure to choose an appropriate planting web site . I ’ll cover everything your reddened branchlet cornel needs to know its estimable life in the next plane section , so feel free to circle back here afterward if you need to .
commence by digging a hole that is twice as wide and the same depth as the root orb of your shrub . Depending on the stage of increment your plant is at , this could be anywhere from six inch to two feet wide .
Next , remove your flora from its container and probe the roots . trim away any misrepresented or damaged rootage and tease those that have become potbound .
If roots are severely potbound , make a few cuts into the theme chunk with yourhori horior a sharp knife to create some space in the rootage ball .
As long as your soil is in upright condition , you should n’t need to add amendments as these plants are pretty resilient .
If you ’re like me and you want to give your new plant the best fortune at survival , scoop in a shovelful ofwell - rotted compostand mix it into the soil you remove from the planting hole .
put the plant in home , take for the top of the root formal to be level with the beleaguer reason .
Backfill with soil , gently pack around the rootage as you work . When you ’re finished , give your new transplant a nice drink of water . This should be at least two or three gal .
If the soil settles quite a bit while watering , add more soil to the surface . Apply a two- to three - inchlayer of mulchover the solution zona to help in moisture retention and to insulate the vulnerable source from uttermost high temperature or cold .
Now that you are familiar with all the way to propagate red sprig cornel shrubs , permit ’s take a closer look at all the constituent these plants need to live their expert lives .
How to Grow Red Twig Dogwood
Red branchlet dogwoods are suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 8 , depending on the type . They originate best in full sunshine to part shadowiness .
They opt loamy territory with a pH of 5.5 to 8.5 , but some will do fine in other soil types , as long as it ’s moist , yet well - draining . Some variety will even tolerate wet grime , which is the reason you ’ll often see swath of cherry twigs grow in ditches and swampy or boggy areas .
Most red twig dogwoods are fast growers and some sucker freely , so check the carry mature tiptop and width of your plant on the rag that accompanies it so you’re able to design your space accordingly .
These shrubs typically extend to their maximal sizing somewhere between five and 10 year old .
Although red twig dogwood tree might be able to tolerate a ironic spell and bounce back after the next rain , to keep them as healthy as possible , be certain to water in times of drouth .
These shrubs are low alimony , spare for some pruning if you want to keep their size in check and encourage their vibrant flushed color .
I ’ll discourse snip along with other recommendations for maintenance of these shrub later , so keep reading !
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
There are three reasons to rationalize cerise branchlet dogwoods : to keep them healthy , to control their shape , and to encourage new growth that produces the brightest red color .
The best time to prune your red twig dogwoods is while the shrub are hibernating , in late winter or other leaping .
Remove any damage , wiped out , crossed , or insalubrious branches by cut them at the base of the works , just above the soil line .
As they are vigorous grower , these woody shrubs can become quite large very speedily . If you need to hold in them and control their size , do n’t be afraid of giving them a hard pruning .
In tardy summer , you ’ll notice that young radical will turn red and the color will heighten throughout the winter . Once the stems attain about three yr quondam , they begin to evanesce to a dull putting surface , chocolate-brown , or gray color .
Cut these stem at the base of the plant as part of your regular pruning modus operandi . The industrial plant will reply by send out fresh , new growth continually .
These shrubs will tolerate greening pruning , which can regenerate an old , unproductive shrub . If your reddened twig dogwood has been neglected and is n’t produce reddened branches as you ’d like , swerve it back to about six to eight inches from the earth .
Although it will leave an empty place in your landscape or garden for a time of year , it will quickly take back in with fresh , vibrant red growth .
Fast - diffuse suckers are very helpful for controlling eating away . But if your dogwood tree is spread wider than you ’d like , control it by removing suckers .
Use a spade or sharp spadeful and some estimable one-time - fashioned brute force to stump through and cut the fall guy and their roots away from the base of the industrial plant .
After rationalize in former spring , finish your maintenance by topping up the level of mulch to about two to three inches rich , from the floor of the plant to the drip line .
This should traverse the root zone , but not touch on the stems . Keep the mulch two inch away from the stem .
As I ’ve advert , these bush are very low maintenance . Ensure they have consistent wet , prune to encourage new salubrious growth , control suckering if desire , and mulch to retain soil wet . Not much work to get that vivacious wintertime color you ’re looking for .
Red Twig Dogwood Species and Cultivars to Select
With a broad stove of variety and cultivars to choose from across most of the United States and Canada , you ’ll in all probability find many interesting red-faced twig dogwoods in your local region .
I ’ve incur three unlike specimens spring up in my garden here in Zone 5b and I could n’t be happier with them .
I ’ve play up some popular one to give you an idea of the choice useable .
Arctic Fire
C. sericea ( syn . C. stonolifera)‘Farrow ’ aka Arctic Fire ® is a stocky , overshadow red twig dogwood shrub .
This ornamental bush uprise good in zona 3 to 7 and reaches a maximal size of it of four infantry tall and wide .
It ’s suitable for partially shaded locations and due to its small height , is a suitable option for smaller blank .
‘ farrowing ’ showcases pretty white flower in spring , follow by white berries and gorgeous solid , gullible leaves that twist cherry to burgundy in fall before they fall to reveal the red - hot stems through winter .
obtain bleak root and container - grown Arctic Fire ® dogwoodavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Arctic Sun
C. sanguinea‘Cato ’ is a red twig dogwood tree cultivar also sold under the name Arctic Sun ® . This compact gnome shrub grows well in USDA Zones 3 to 9 .
‘ Cato ’ reaches a maximum meridian of four substructure tall with a similar spread . Its mincing lily-white flowers give agency to purple Charles Edward Berry , attracting songbirds to your garden .
The vernal green leave quickly turn to a lovely chartreuse , almost Ne yellow color , then burst into shade of orange as the time of year transfer to fall .
The bark of this variety glows with a unique orange tree and ruby-red combination . Some may call this a yellow twig dogwood , but the tip of the stems are typically bright coral red .
You ’ll in all likelihood come up this popular dogwood tree at your local glasshouse , but if you favor the gizmo of online shopping it’savailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Cardinal
C. sericea‘Cardinal ’ is a cold - hardy pick for Zones 2 to 7 . It ’s a degenerate turn salmagundi and reach a mature acme of up to ten feet with a similar gap .
It produces berries in a dreamy , creamy - white-hot color with hints of blue angel .
‘ Cardinal ’
The dark unripened foliage turns a luscious shade of deep purple - red in fall and the marvellous stems form a brilliant display of bolshy for winter dividing line .
Find ‘ Cardinal’available at Nature Hills Nursery .
Ivory Halo
C. alba‘Bailhalo , ’ otherwise known as Ivory Halo ® , grows best in USDA zone 3 to 7 . This is a variegated mixture , that give a maximal sizing of six feet tall and wide at maturity .
leaf is sick immature with crispy , creamy white edges . Berry are blanched with a cool blue undertone .
In fall , the leafage turn to a purple - crimson gloss , add up fondness to your fall garden display . And of course , foliage then fall away revealing the intense red stem through winter .
you may find Ivory Halo ® available at Fast Growing Trees .
Silverleaf
C. alba‘Elegantissima , ’ also bed as silverleaf cornel , is another motley red sprig dogwood tree that grows up to 10 feet tall and wide .
This cultivar can be grown in USDA Zones 3 to 8 .
Petite white bloom exhaust a subtle scent in spring , followed by precious cluster of Charles Edward Berry that are white with a touch of dingy - greens .
The grey - light-green leaves make a truly elegant presentation with their broad lily-white or ointment - colorize perimeter .
‘ Elegantissima ’
In fall , leave ferment wizard shades of peach , gold , and crimson before they discharge to expose the flashy reddish stems for winter .
you may find ‘ Elegantissima ’ dogwoodavailable at Nature Hills .
Managing Pests and Disease
Like most other dogwoods , ruby branchlet are springy plants , but they can sometimes be move by pest infestations and disease .
countenance ’s take a abbreviated look at the most vulgar problems that you may find .
Herbivores
I unremarkably recommend protecting the low-spirited torso and stems of young fruit - farm shrubs with some variety of forcible barrier .
This is because animals likerabbitsanddeerlike to nibble on immature growth of some of these plant .
With my red twigs , however , I did not do this and they were never importantly put out .
This could be because there were other suitable plants the herbivores were pull to in my garden . But it ’s a smart idea to protect young transplants for the first time of year while they become established .
Because flushed branchlet are multi - stemmed bush , tree trunk wrapper and volute will not form . or else , shape a length of chicken conducting wire into a cylinder around the base of your plant and stop up it into the ground with stakes .
As for birds , I ’m never concerned with protect the berries from them because they are n’t part of my diet .
In fact , I utilise my red twigs and other inedible shrubsto feed the birds . boo help hold in unwanted insects and encouraging their bearing in our gardens is a respectable thing . So let the dame banquet !
Insects
Several different kinds of insects will feed on these shrubs , and you could read about them inour template to dogwood pestilence .
I ’ve highlighted a few you should observe for on your violent twig dogwoods .
Dogwood borer , Synanthedon scitula , is the larvae of a clearwing moth . The moth looks alike to a wasp and females lay their eggs on the barque of the plant .
The larvae measures under an inch long at due date and off - Patrick Victor Martindale White in color with a sorry head .
Borers accede the flora through an hatchway or wound , crawl inside and feed in on the cambium , get the branch to die .
You might notice other leaf drop or leaves turn crimson earlier than usual . You might also see frass , that looks like sawdust on or near the industrial plant .
Because these insects enter through holes , take care not to do damage as you do criminal maintenance such as weed whacking around your shrubs .
If you identify these borer eating your dogwood , prune away the affected branches .
The dogwood club gall midge , Resseliella clavula , is a tiny fly , almost too small to see unless you look nearly .
It ’s less than one - one-eighth of an inch long and it lays eggs on last shoot of your plant . When the ballock brood , the larvae move into the nearby shoot .
As the larvae feeds , swollen galls mold on the branches – they can be up to one inch in diam .
In the fall , the larvae emerge from the gall and fall to the ground below where they winter and later transform into adult fly sheet to begin the cycle again .
Since infestation rarely grow out of dominance , just prune the rancor as you see them and dispose of them in the food waste .. This destroys the larvae and ends the cycle .
Horse chestnut scale , Pulvinaria regalis , are worm that give by suck sap from the host works .
They are small , usually about four to five millimeters in diameter , brown colored , and round at maturity .
These louse follow a one - class generational cycle , beginning in June or July when the eggs hatch . nymph move to the bottom of leaf where they fertilize . In the fall , they migrate to the bark where they overwinter and start run again in former spring .
ripe scale insects have a protective cuticle and when they lie egg under their bodies , these are sheltered underneath . After the eggs are laid , the adult dies , and the eggs finally hatch a calendar month or so subsequently .
These insects seldom get serious damage to dogwoods . you could try scraping eggs and grownup off your plants or clipping away infested subdivision .
promote good predatorslike ladybugs , parasitoid wasps , and dame as these consume weighing machine as part of their diets .
Disease
Our templet to common dogwood diseasescovers in detail the potential issues you may face . Here ’s a feeling at some of the disease that commonly sham cerise twig dogwood plants .
Dogwood anthracnose , akaCornusanthracnose , is get by the fungusDiscula destructiva . And it ’s a severe dogwood tree disease .
unclouded brown spots , sometimes with morose edge , first appear on leave of absence and efflorescence . farewell eventually become dry and the splotch increase in size .
From the leafage , the contagion can spread to shoots , branch , and stems where it get cankers to take shape , which can girdle the branch and kill it .
Trim away all unnatural parts of the plant , and dispose of them . graze up and clean away fallen leaf from the area and destroy or put them in the ice .
If you are combat an transmission of dogwood anthracnose , and you ’ve prune and clean up the area but you still notice sign of contagion , consider treating with a copper fungicide .
Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide
see for a product like Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide spray , available at Arbico Organics .
Learn more about controlling cornel anthracnose .
Powdery mildew is a disease make by the fungusErysiphe pulchra , formerly known asMicrosphaera pulchra .
vernacular in dense , fishy areas , this fungus can grow out of control as a result of poor air circulation and dampish condition .
It causes leaves to appear as if they are covered in a fine , white detritus and often look scorched , ironic , and discolor . Defoliation may occur in stark cases .
Most case of powdery mildew come along in late summer , toward the end of the growing time of year . For this reason , many gardener take not to process it as the leaves will begin to lessen soon anyway .
Clean up and demolish affected fallen leaves and prune out dead or severely affected branches . Regular one-year pruning encourages better gentle wind circulation between the branch .
If powdery mildew start out early in the time of year , you might conceive using a fungicide , but to be effective , you take to practice it mighty away when you first notice symptom .
you’re able to teach to supervise powdery mildew in our template .
Spot anthracnose is a fungal disease caused byElsinoe corni . It commonly appear after periods of high humidity or extended , frequent rainfall .
As the atmospheric condition clears up , and thing begin to dry out out you ’ll find obvious signs .
Tiny brownness to purplish spots come out on the blossom and the petal might begin to ruckle and become misrepresented . The disease can then move to the leave of absence , the new shoots , and the yield .
Serious infection rarely occurs , but if it does become grievous or repeat the next year , it can stress the plant and break it .
Because the fungus can survive winters on plant material , cut back away any affected area and dispose of the debris in the trash . Consider regale with a fungicide if it becomes challenging to ensure over more than one season .
Best Uses for Red Twig Dogwoods
Red sprig dogwood are principally assess for their unique cosmetic features , offering colorful class - round visual interest in landscape painting and gardens .
Smaller specimens can be planted in borders and all sizes can be used as focal point and accents .
They are a source of food for pollinator , hiss , and other minuscule mammals which makes them an idealistic selection for land restoration project and ecological recourse sites .
These shrub are also helpful in the diligence of corrosion ascendency due to their tight - produce and suckering wont . This also makes them a favorite for hedge and deal plantings .
My inviolable favorite reason for uprise these plants is for their wintertime pastime . I adore how the red stem stand out against snow and the direct contrast they propose to greenery arrangement .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Set the Snow on Fire!
As wintertime ’s pall takes hold , permit the fiery stem of blood-red twig dogwood warm you up as it sets the snow-white landscape ablaze with color .
These vivacious sentinels stand guard over the slumbering earth , foretell the return of spring ’s sunshine and a new growing season .
From the story of these sensational shrubs to their attention and alimony needs , we ’ve covered everything you need to bonk about the red branchlet dogwood tree .
And formore selective information about different types of dogwoodsand how to grow them , correspond out these guide next :
photo by Tabitha Caswell © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . ware photos via Arbico Organics , Fast Growing Trees , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Tabitha Caswell
