Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Prides Corner Farms
Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'
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Cardinal was selected for stem color, and the cherry-red winter branches are brighter than the wild form. Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' grows 6 to 8 feet tall and 9 to 10 feet wide in part shade, hardy from Zone 3 through Zone 8, and fills in fast.
The stems turn their strongest red in cold weather and hold the color until spring growth begins. Against snow they carry a whole planting.
Flat clusters of white flowers open in late spring, followed by white berries in late summer that songbirds strip quickly. Fall foliage turns reddish purple.
Red twig dogwood grows wild in wet meadows and along streams, so it takes wet ground, clay, and moderate road salt without complaint. The brightest color comes from young stems, so cut a third of the oldest canes to the ground each spring to keep new growth coming. It spreads to form a colony, which suits a mass planting or a streambank rather than a formal bed. Deer leave it alone.
Height 6'- 8' Spread 9'- 10'
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
Lowest Temperatures -40°F to -30°F
Part shade - 4 to 6 hours of direct sun per day, mostly before midday
AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
