Dogwood

Cornus alba
Common Name: Tatarian Dogwood

This deciduous shrub has bright red stems in winter, although some varieties are yellow-stemmed.. It grows in sun or part shade. Some cultivars have variegated leaves; these are usually not as vigorous as the green-leaved varieties. Tatarian dogwood is hardy in zones 2 – 7. It grows more than eighteen inches annually and reaches a height of eight feet and spread of about seven feet at maturity. The blossoms and fruit are white.

Cultivars: 'Argenteo-marginata' ('Elegantissima') - leaves variegated cream and green
'Bailhalo' - height 5 feet, spread 5 feet, cream and white leaves
'Bud's Yellow' - yellow-stemmed
'Chblzam' - height 6 feet, spread 5 feet
'Crmizam' – yellow-green stems, variegated leaves
'Gouchaultii' - green leaf with yellow and rose margins
'Kesselringii' - red stems become dark purple in winter
'Siberian Pearls' - large white fruit turn bluish before falling
'Sibirica Bloodgood' - bright, coral-red bark in winter, brighter than other dogwoods
'Sibirica Red Gnome' - height 4 feet, spread 4 feet
'Sibirica Ruby' - Ruby-red stems in all seasons
'Stdazam' - green and white foliage

Cornus Bretschneideri - Native of China, it was brought into prominent notice in 1899, when a figure and description appeared in Le Jardin. Since that time ample opportunity has occurred of judging its merits as an ornamental shrub, and although this group of the family is sometimes despised for its flowering qualities, it has the advantage of producing attractive fruit towards the end of August, the berries being alternately white and bluish in color. Its bark has the familiar red coloring of several other species in the group, although it is less bright than that of C. alba and its varieties. It can be grown almost anywhere and in almost any deeply-worked soil. By inserting cuttings a foot long out of doors, in autumn or winter, it is easily increased. It is of vigorous habit, and requires plenty of room. has to be severely pruned to keep it from smothering other subjects.

Cornus Canadensis - unchberry) is a pretty little plant with creeping underground rhizomes and upright stems from 4 to 8 inches high, the leaves in a whorl of four or six near the summit of the stems; the true flowers are minute, but the four rather large white or cream-colored bracts conspicuous. The berries are red, and show well above the short stems: in taste they are sweet and palatable. Japan and N. America.

Strawberry-tree (Cornus Capitata) - This is more widely known under the name of Benthamia fragifera. It is a sub-evergreen tree, a native of N. India and China. In the gardens of Mr R. G. Lake, Trevarrick, St Austell, some trees are about 40 feet high, and the trunk is one of 5 feet in diameter at 5 feet from the ground. There are numbers of fine specimens at Trelissick and in Devon and Cornwall. The large bracts, white tinged with pink or rose, make this one of the most beautiful trees when in flower, and the large clear red fleshy fruits somewhat resembling a Strawberry.

Cornus Circinata - This is conspicuous by reason of its large round leaves, which are 4 or 5 inches long and 3 inches or more wide, and its clusters of bright-blue fruits, each being about the size of a Pea. It is 3 feet or more—rarely reaching 10 feet—in height, and has rather rigid erect stems covered with warted bark, which is at first pale green, and later becomes light brown or purple. N. America.

See Cornus Florida

Cornus Florida Rubra - It is a source of regret to shrub-lovers that the ordinary C. florida rarely flowers in England, but this variety does so well. It has pure pink bracts. There is also a variety known as C. florida pendula, with a weeping habit. The large white bracts which surround the flowers come in great abundance before the leaves appear.

See Cornus Kousa

Cornelian Cherry (Cornus Mas) - Although the flowers of this are small, they are borne so freely by old trees that the clusters of yellow flowers are conspicuous on the leafless twigs. Old trees fruit freely, and bear fruit half an inch long or more, bright red and individually as handsome as a Cherry. On the Continent in many places selected varieties are grown for the sake of the fruit, for preserving. Amongst the forms are some with yellow, bright blood-red, and violet fruits, and another with fruit much larger than that of the wild plant. The Cornelian Cherry is a native of C. and S. Europe, and sometime attains 20 feet in height.

Cornus Nuttalli - A tree, in its native country, 50 or 60 feet high. Generally it has six large, broad white bracts 2 or 3 inches long, so that the so-called flower measures 4 or 6 inches across. It is one of the most beautiful trees in the forests in many parts of California and Oregon.

Cornus Paucinervis - One of the most compact growing of the Dogwoods, and a pretty flowering shrub. It forms a dense-growing bush. The flowers are borne in flattish clusters. In August it is very useful.

See Red Osier Dogwood

C. Suecica is a native of N. and Arctic Europe, Asia, and America, in Britain occurring on high moorlands from Yorkshire northwards, and ascends to 3000 feet. It is a charming little plant, flowering in July and August, with rather large white bracts, followed by red drupes. It should be grown in light soil or in peat in partial shade in the bog garden.—N.