Cardinal Dogwood

Cardinal Dogwood is a large upright-spreading shrub with chartreuse stems that striking cherry red in fall, and rich green foliage that turns brick red to burgundy in fall. Flat clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, and are followed by small white berries that attract birds.  Best stem color occurs in full sun and moist well drained soils.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance. Pruning in late spring stimulates new growth, which has the best color.  Plants become more vulnerable to diseases in hot summer climates south of zone 7.  Susceptible to leaf and stem blights, canker, and leaf spot.  Mulching will help keep roots cool in summer. 

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Woodland Gardens, Naturalized Areas, Ponds or streams, Foundational Plantings.

COMPANION PLANTS: Maple, Sweetflag, Itea

IMAGES: Andrey Zharkikh, 2010.10.09-10.55.57_IMG_1772, (2) Superior National Forest, Cornus sericea ssp sericea 3-eheep (5098092826), CC BY 2.0

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown