Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
A great plant for achieving structure and colour in winter is Cornus alba 'Sibirica'. At Hyde Hall you can find this brilliant cultivar in mixed borders through the Hilltop Garden and on Clover Hill.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Siberian dogwood
- Family
- Cornaceae
- Height & spread
- 2m (6ft 6in) high and wide
- Form
- Vigorous deciduous shrub
- Soil
- Any
- Aspect
- Winter stem colour best in full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy throughout the British Isles
Cornus
The dogwoods, Cornus, comprise a small genus of around 45 species of mostly deciduous shrubs and small trees from northern temperate grasslands, woodlands and swamps. Cornus alba was introduced from Siberia in 1741 though it also grows in China.
The genus Cornus is named after the Latin for the cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, grown for its colourful yellow flowers produced in spring, followed by bright red, fleshy, edible fruit in late summer. It also produces a wonderful autumn display with the dark green leaves turning reddish purple.
Cornus alba 'Sibirica'
Cornus alba 'Sibirica' is a deciduous, upright-growing shrub with dark green leaves. It bears clusters of small white flowers in spring and early summer, followed by small white berries. It is most commonly grown for its brilliant crimson stems, which are at their best on sunny winter days.
The stems are most brightly coloured on the previous summer's growth and gradually darken as spring approaches.
It is sometimes found under the name 'Westonbirt' or C. atrosanguinea.
Cultivation
Cornus alba will grow in any soil, moist or dry, but for the best winter stem colour a moist site in full sun is recommended. Hard annual pruning produces the best display of colourful winter stems, but at the expense of flowering growth. However, allow plants to grow unpruned for the first year after planting.
Prune in early spring, before bud break, by cutting back all the stems to within 5cm (2in) of the ground, or within two buds of the previous year's growth. Neglected plants can be renovated by cutting out the old wood at the centre of the bush.
Cornus are rarely affected by pests and diseases, though some may suffer from cornus anthracnose. This fungal infection is most prevalent in cool, damp weather, with infections showing as spots appearing on the leaves in late spring or early summer. As the infection develops patches of dieback may appear and in severe cases the plant may die.
Cornus alba can be affected, but only the weakest shoots tend to die while the rest of the plant remains healthy. To stop the infection spreading the affected branches should be pruned out and burnt.
Propagation
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Cornus alba 'Sibirica' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:
'a medium-sized suckering deciduous shrub forming a thicket of slender red stems, becoming bright crimson in winter. Leaves ovate, flowers small, cream, in flat heads; berries bluish-white.'