Cornus
Dogwood, Cornel
- Height × spread
- 0.1m – 10m × 0.3m – 11m
- Position
- All conditions
Availability
Generally all year, largest selection in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Dogwood, a group of trees and shrubs, are best known for brightly coloured bare stems in winter. Flowers which are often scented appear in spring. Some have wonderful autumnal foliage before losing their leaves, while others are evergreen. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, from smaller shrubs at 1m up to trees over 10m in height. A brilliant plant for multi-season colour and interest.
- Flower colour
- Green, Pink, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green, Pink, Purple, White, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Black, Blue, Green, Red, White
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, some varieties
- Shape
- Bell, Cone, Cube, Dome, Fan, Horizontal, Oval, Round
- Height
- 0.1m – 10m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 11m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Small scale garden, Shady court, Seaside garden, Scented garden, Rock garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Hedge, Ground cover, Screening, Structural, Coloured stems, Architectural, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction, Bird attraction
- Maintenance
- Some varieties are easycare (low/no maintenance)
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Feed & mulch some rose varieties differently
To keep roses healthy and produce more flowers, feed during the growing season before and after flowering. Roses in containers should be fed more often than those planted in the ground, every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Adding a mulch around the base of a rose will trap moisture and enrich the soil as it biodegrades.
Outdoors
Water some varieties differently
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for water. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for watering guidance.
Planting
Prune some varieties
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for pruning guidance.
Planting
Divide some varieties differently
Some plant varieties within this genus have different requirements for dividing them when they get big. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for guidance, and/or check the label.
Found in
More Cornus
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'
Silver variegated dogwood, Red-barked dogwood, White fruited dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba 'Kesselringii'
Red-barked dogwood, White fruited dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba 'Sibirica Variegata'
Siberian dogwood, Red-barked dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
Siberian dogwood, Red-barked dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba Baton Rouge = 'Minbat'
Red-barked dogwood, White fruited dogwood, Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea'
Pagoda dogwood, Green osier
Cornus canadensis
Creeping dogwood, Bunchberry, Crackerberry, Pudding berry, Dwarf cornel
Cornus controversa 'Variegata'
Wedding cake tree, Pagoda dogwood, Table dogwood, Goant dogwood