Cornus alba Gouchaultii - White Dogwood

The Cornus alba Gouchaultii is a white dogwood variety that adds a pop of colour to any garden all year round. During winter, its branches reveal a shining red colour with remarkable graphics, while the rest of the year, it boasts a charming foliage variegated with gold and pink. In spring, it produces pretty white-blue berries that are quite decorative. In autumn, its foliage turns a beautiful red colour. This bush is both ornamental and hardy, and it grows easily in ordinary soil. It can be used alone or mixed with other shrubs to create an elegant screen.

The Cornus alba Gouchaultii is a member of the cornaceae family and is a variety of the Cornus alba, also known as the white dogwood, which is native to Siberia, the banks of the Amur River, and the moist deciduous and coniferous forests found in Russia and Manchuria. This plant is usually found growing near water and is known for its ability to thrive in harsh and contrasting climates. The 'Gouchaultii' selection is a bushy and abundant plant that grows to an average height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and a spread of 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in). Its growth is fast and it has a ramified shrub with a thicket-like appearance. Its branches are red and shiny, both when young and older, and they do not become bare at the base. The deciduous foliage emerges purple in spring before variegating with gold or white, pink and light purple, and finally turning red-orange before dropping. The leaves are entire, clearly veined and undulated, measuring about 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. While its flowering is rather discreet, in the form of small white-yellowish flowers arranged in cymes, which are attractive to bees, it produces creamy white berries containing oily seeds that turn bluish when ripe. The lower branches of the plant form suckers or roots in the soil without the bush being invasive.

Dogwood trees can add a beautiful touch to any garden, regardless of size or style. The Cornus alba Gouchaultii is especially versatile, as it provides a fresh spectacle throughout the year and has moderate growth, making it great for medium-sized hedges or as a stunning backdrop for perennial or shrub borders. It can also be placed on the edge of a woodland to create a smooth transition with the countryside. For a colourful scene, consider pairing it with Helianthus, Heliopsis or Daylilies. As it thrives near water, it can be positioned with the yellow-barked Cornus stolonifera Faviramea behind a foreground of Astilbes, near a pond.