Dogwood Shrub
From LoveToKnow Garden
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Cornus sanguineum Cornus racemosa Cornus stolonifera, formerly Cornus sericea
Dogwood shrubs can tolerate very low temperatures when they are acclimated; in the laboratory, they have survived temperatures as low as -320ยบ Fahrenheit. They avoid the injury caused by ice forming in living protoplasm by having water frozen extracellularly. Short day length promotes cold acclimation, as does far red light characteristic of long twilights at high latitudes. Deer are less likely to eat dogwood shrubs than other garden plants.
[edit] In the Garden[edit] Red Twig DogwoodCornus stolonifera
[edit] Bloodtwig Dogwood Cornus sanguineum This species also has red stems in the winter. The flowers, which bloom in late spring, are white, and the fruit is black. Individual shrubs grow to a height of ten feet and a spread of ten feet. They have a tendency to sucker and thickets can develop from a single bush. It is hardy in zones 4 to 7. Two cultivars are particularly popular. 'Winter Beauty' has yellowish-orange stems in winter and bright yellow fall foliage. 'Winter Flame' has yellow and orange fall foliage. In winter the stems are yellow at the base, becoming red to orange at the tips.
[edit] Gray DogwoodCornus racemosa 
This handsome shrub, which can grow to a height of twelve feet with the same spread, thrives in wet areas and tolerates shade. It suckers readily and can develop dense thickets. Its dense growth habit makes it suitable for hedges or barrier plantings. Several cultivars are available commercially, and some can be grown as small trees. The flowers are white. The white fruits are on red peduncles, and when birds eat the fruit, the red peduncles remain, giving the shrub a reddish color. Gray dogwood is hardy in zones 3 to 8.
[edit] Tatarian DogwoodCornus alba
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[edit] Growing Dogwood ShrubsAll dogwood shrubs love moist, rich soil. Although many are drought tolerant once established, they flourish in wet sites. These bushes can live with the roots submerged in water for most of the growing season, if the soil is rich in nutrients. Although they are very cold hardy, many dogwood shrubs do not endure heat. The southern limit of their range appears to be determined by high temperatures. The bright color of dogwood stems can fade in old growth. To encourage brightly-colored new growth, cut back the oldest stems in late winter. Dogwood shrub flowers are self-sterile, so they must be cross-pollinated to produce seed. Seeds need cold stratification for one to three months in order to germinate; they will remain viable in cold storage for four to eight years. Shrubs will produce new roots at the stem nodes when the stems lie on the ground, so layering is a useful technique for propagation. They also produce new shoots from the roots as well as from the base of dying branches. Cuttings root very easily.
[edit] UsesDogwood shrubs are valued for their beauty by gardeners, but they are also useful plants. They are often recommended for rehabilitating moist sites, and are especially helpful in stabilizing eroding stream banks. The long stems were used by North American Indians for basket weaving; they are still used by present-day crafters. Dyes were made from the bark and roots. Indians and, later, European settlers smoked the inner bark, stem scrapings, and leaves, which have a slightly narcotic effect. An extract was used as an emetic for treating fevers and coughs.
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