Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' (Variegated Dogwood) – Red Winter Stems (3L Pot)

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' gives you two plants in one: bright cream edged leaves all summer, then deep red bare stems all winter.

The leaves are grey green with irregular creamy white margins, which lifts a dull corner and looks especially good against dark evergreens. Small creamy white flowers open in late spring and early summer and are followed by white to blue white berries that the birds clear in autumn. When the leaves fall the red stems take over until spring.

It makes a bushy, multi stemmed shrub of up to three metres each way, is completely hardy, and grows in full sun or partial shade. Like all the stem dogwoods it is happy on damp, heavy and clay ground, which makes it useful where other shrubs sulk.

Cut the stems back hard in March every year or two, since the youngest wood carries the strongest colour. It holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit. Supplied as an established plant in a 3L pot, ready for a border or a large container.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Variegated dogwood
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Up to 3m tall by 3m wide
• Growth Habit: Upright, bushy, multi stemmed deciduous shrub
• Perfect For: Mixed borders, woodland edges, damp corners, winter borders and large containers
• Foliage: Grey green leaves with irregular creamy white margins
• Flowering Time: Late spring to early summer, small creamy white clusters, followed by white berries in autumn
• Planting Position: Full sun or partial shade. Fully hardy, and fine on damp ground and heavy clay.
• Soil Type: Moist soil of any kind, including wet and heavy clay
• Hardiness: Fully hardy everywhere in Britain
• Maintenance: Cut back hard in March every year or two for the best winter stem colour.
• Seasonal Interest: Spring, summer, autumn and winter
• Type: Hardy deciduous shrub

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