Plants for Winter Color in the Garden: Red-Osier (or Red Twig) Dogwood

The red-osier, more commonly known as red twig, dogwood is classified as a deciduous shrub rather than a tree, such as the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). While the red twig dogwood does have attractive foliage and does produce beautiful blooms followed by white berries, just like it tree cousins do, it is in the winter months when all of its leaves, flowers, and berries are gone that the red twig dogwood really shines.

The red-osier or red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea/stolonifera) has green, sometimes variegated, veined leaves, which turn purplish or reddish in the fall. White blooms usually appear in early summer, followed by white berries. (Birds absolutely love these berries, too.) Multiple stems grow from a central point at ground level and can grow to be 7-9-feet-tall with a 10-foot spread. The stems are a greenish-red during the summer; however, it is their color in the winter that makes this an outstanding shrub for your garden.

In the winter, after all of the leaves have fallen, the branches turn a brilliant deep red -- hence the nickname "red twig." You will want to plant this dogwood in a place where its color will really stand out. If you have a large area, plant several in a group for even more of an impact. The red twig dogwood is especially gorgeous in the snow. Most gardening books will tell you to plant the red twig dogwood in full sun to ensure good bark color; however, I have one planted on the outside front edge of my husband's woodland garden where it is in partial shade, yet it always has good bark color in the winter. (Of course, I live in the South in zone 6; and full sun here is not always like full sun further north. [See: Gardening Problems in the South.]) This dogwood does like fertile, acid soil and moist conditions. (Never let it dry out completely.)

Barefoot specimens can be planted in early spring. Container and balled-and-burlapped specimens can be planted in the spring, summer, or fall. When your red twig dogwood in 2-3 years old, cut it back to about two inches from the ground in the spring just as it begins to grow. This will actually encourage new growth. After this, you should cut about a third of the older stems each year. (Note: Flowers and berries form on the older stems.) Keeping the older stems cut back will also encourage better bark color in the winter.

There are several different species that are much like the red-osier (red twig) dogwood. One is the Tartarian dogwood (C. alba), which is a more upright version of C. sericea. There are others that are sometimes called "yellow-twig dogwoods," such as 'Flaviramea,' which has yellow twigs in the winter. (I just happen to prefer the red.) 'Silver and Gold' is another yellow-twig dogwood, that has white and green variegated foliage. This particular species handles heat and humidity well, too, which makes it a good choice for more southern climates. However, if you -- like me -- prefer the red colors, you might also want to try 'Cardinal' (bright orange-red stems) and 'Siberica' (bright coral-red stems). Whatever species you choose, you will not be disappointed by the color these dogwoods supply in the winter. You might even catch yourself wishing for snow.

References:

Blume, James D. New Garden Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Corporation, 1990.

Roth, Susan A. New Complete Guide to Gardening. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Books, 1997.