Red-barked Dogwood

Cornus alba Sibirica

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Soil: any moderately fertile soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: May and June
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  This deciduous shrub has oval, dark green leaves and produces small, creamy-white flowers in May and June. But it's really grown for the bright, coral-red stems that are revealed when the leaves fall. This lovely dogwood looks stunning planted in groups in damp areas of the garden, beside water, or in a winter border. Best in full sun, it works particularly well with orange or purple-stemmed varieties of dogwood.
  
  
• Garden care: For best stem colour, cut new growth back hard to within 5-7cm (2-3in) from the ground in March and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure around the base of the plant.