Dogwood Midwinter Fire

A small, spreading, deciduous shrub, Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire will, unusually for a dogwood, tolerates alkaline soils. It’s grown for its branching, twiggy, winter stems in shades of orange and yellow, red at the tips, looking like a bonfire in the winter garden. The oval, mid-green leaves turn orange-yellow in autumn. Inconspicuous white flowers appear in late spring. For the best stem colour, the stems of an established shrub should be cut back hard in early spring, and the shrub well manured. Beautiful in a group in a moist border.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soils: Any well-drained soil, preferably moist
Position: Best in full sun
Season of interest: Particularly good in winter
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height to 6’6” (2m) Spread to 6’6” (2m)