Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' (also called variegated Dogwood)
Cornus
alba
'Elegantissima'
Deciduous shrub grown for bright red winter stems and green foliage in spring and summer. Looks good growing next to green-stemmed Cornus. Can be used for an informal hedge. Flowers are attractive to insects.
Green and cream variegated leaves in summer and bright red stems in winter.
Habit - upright, slightly arching. H: 1.8m. S: 1.8m
Stems - straight, round, smooth and bright red.
Leaves - ovate, mid to dark green with cream edges.
Flowers - clusters of small white flowers followed by white spherical fruits.
Full sun to partial shade.
Moderately fertile, moisture retentive. Does well at the side of ponds and rivers.
Fully hardy.
Usually by coppicing in spring - cutting back hard to within 5cm of the ground in the second year after planting, and every year thereafter. Bear in mind that this will prevent flowering as Cornus flowers on old wood. To have flowers as well as colourful stems, cut back one third of the oldest or thickest stems.
Take hardwood cuttings from November to January.
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