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Cornus alba

Cornus alba
White Dogwood, Siberian Dogwood

4,5/5
1 reviews
1 reviews
0 reviews
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Specific research area, well-conditioned plant with healthy roots. However, only 2 stems measuring 60 and 50 cm (24 and 20in) (+ a few twigs). This does not match the dimensions or the photo shown above. I would have expected a bit more volume and height for a plant as 'basic' as the white dogwood.

Robert, 08/03/2023

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
A large deciduous bushy shrub, wider than it is tall, which puts on a fantastic display in autumn and winter. It bears large green leaves, which turn bright red in autumn before falling. It produces numerous upright branches with intense blood-red bark, which stand out against dull winter backgrounds. With exceptional vigour and rapid growth, it is the ideal bush to form free hedges or as a background for flower beds. Plant in full sun or partial shade, in any soil that is not too dry. Perfectly hardy and tolerant species, it is the perfect shrub to cultivate.
Flower size
4 cm
Height at maturity
1.50 m
Spread at maturity
2 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -34°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

Cornus alba, or white dogwood, is perfectly hardy and tolerant of even dry and limestone soils. It forms a large deciduous bushy shrub, wider than it is tall, bearing large green leaves that turn bright orange-red in autumn before falling, contrasting with its clusters of milky blue fruits. Its numerous upright branches with intense red bark stand out beautifully against dull winter backgrounds and represent its main ornamental asset. With exceptional vigour and rapid growth, it is the ideal shrub for creating free hedges or a background for flower beds easily, while keeping the garden aesthetically pleasing in the late season. Plant in groups, in full sun or partial shade, preferably in all types of soil. A brighter exposure intensifies the autumn foliage colouring.

 

Cornus alba belongs to the Cornaceae family. It is native to Siberia, the banks of the Amur River, and the moist deciduous and coniferous forests found in Russia and Manchuria. It always grows near water, under harsh and contrasting climates that are proof of its hardiness. This deciduous shrub has a bushy, dense habit, slightly wider than it is tall. It is a ramified shrub, with a thicket-like appearance, reaching an average height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), with a spread of 2 m (6.6 ft). Its growth is rapid. Its branches are shiny and blood-red, both when young and older, and they do not become bare at the base. The deciduous foliage emerges green in spring and ends up red-orange before leaf drop. The leaves are entire, clearly veined and undulate, measuring about 10 cm (3.9 in) in length. Its flowering from late May to late July is not its main asset and is rather subtle, in the form of small white-yellowish flowers arranged in cymes. The flowers are attractive to bees. It is followed by fruiting with creamy white berries containing oily seeds, which turn bluish when ripe. The lower branches produce shoots or root in the ground, without the shrub becoming invasive.

 

No matter the size and style of the garden, there will always be a dogwood to provide a beautiful decoration. The white dogwood offers a spectacle from autumn to winter, and its relatively modest size allows it to be included in a mixed hedge of medium height or to form a beautiful background for perennial or shrub beds. It can also be planted on the edge of woodland to create a transition with the countryside. Plant alongside Helianthus, Heliopsis or daylilies to create a colourful scene. As it is a shrub that thrives near water, it can be planted, along with Cornus stolonifera 'Faviramea' with yellow bark, behind a foreground of astilbes, not far from a pond.

Cornus alba in pictures

Cornus alba (Foliage) Foliage

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1.50 m
Spread at maturity 2 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Corymb
Flower size 4 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Fruit colour white

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Bark

Remarkable bark

Botanical data

Genus

Cornus

Species

alba

Family

Cornaceae

Other common names

White Dogwood, Siberian Dogwood

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference1000792

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Planting and care

Cornus alba will thrive in cool, fertile and humus-rich soil, even moist or slightly clayey. However, it is relatively tolerant if the soil is deep, not too compact and not too dry. Plant it from November to March, in a sunny location to enhance the foliage colours, or alternatively in bright semi-shade.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Container, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -34°C (USDA zone 4) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, Fertile, deep.

Care

Pruning instructions The new shoots of the year are the most colourful. Prune the branches in late winter, more or less short depending on the desired silhouette (Pruning is not a problem as its growth is very fast): - Cut to 30 cm (11.8 in) from the ground if you want a very compact bush of 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and add compost at the base to feed the bush. - Cut only 1/3 or even half of the branches to obtain a more voluminous bush.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February to March
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,5/5
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