Shrub
Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba
A deciduous shrub with red winter stems, creamy flowers and pale fruits. It prefers moist soil in sun or partial shade and needs room for spreading shoots.
- Size
- 2.5–4 m high · 2.5–4 m wideVaries by cultivar
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Very hardy
- Seasonal form
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Allow for suckering growth; this is not a naturally compact shrub.
Why choose it
- Bare coloured stems give borders structure in winter.
Care
- Water during establishment and dry spells; avoid prolonged drying.
- Remove some of the oldest stems in early spring to encourage fresh growth.
Good to know
- Leaf colour and final size depend on the cultivar; variegated foliage is not a species-wide feature.