Cornus alba Aurea - White Dogwood

The Cornus alba Aurea is a cultivar of white dogwood, decorative all year round, whether because of its magnificent golden foliage, its small clusters of nectar-rich flowers, its fantastic autumn colours, or its brightly coloured red stems, clearly visible in winter. It is a very hardy and vigorous shrub, slightly suckering, with an upright habit that gradually spreads. It will make a great impression when placed in isolation, in a bed, or as a hedge. Accommodating in terms of soil, this dogwood needs to be sheltered from the scorching sun in hot climates. It is one of the most resilient golden foliage plants there are.

The Aurea white dogwood belongs to the dogwood family. It comes from the Cornus alba, a botanical species native to Siberia and Manchuria, where it is found on the banks of the Amur River, in damp deciduous and coniferous forests. It always grows close to water, under harsh and contrasting climates that are proof of its robustness. The 'Aurea' selection shows remarkably yellow-dominated foliage. Bushy and abundant, it naturally reaches a height slightly greater than its width at maturity, but repeated pruning often gives it a low dome-like appearance, wider than it is tall. It is a branched, erect shrub with a thicket-like appearance, reaching approximately 2m (6.6ft) in height with a minimum spread of 1.50m (4.9ft). The lower branches produce suckers or root into the ground, without the shrub becoming invasive. Its growth is rapid. Its branches are red and shiny, especially when young. The deciduous foliage appears in spring and falls in autumn. In spring, it emerges as a warm yellow, turning orange, becoming yellow-green in summer, then lemon yellow in September, before transitioning to pinkish-red in autumn. The leaves are entire and clearly veined, with a pointed tip. Its flowering is not its main asset, rather discreet, in the form of small white-yellowish flowers arranged in cymes, but they are nectar-rich. It is followed by creamy white berries containing oily seeds, which turn bluish when ripe.

Regardless of the size and style of the garden, there will always be a dogwood to provide a beautiful decoration. The Aurea white dogwood offers a changing spectacle throughout the year, and its colours brighten up slightly shaded areas. It can also be used in the composition of a mixed hedge or form an elegant background for perennial or shrub beds. It can also be planted on the edge of a woodland to create a transition with the countryside. Its association with Helianthus, Heliopsis, or Hemerocallis will create a very colourful scene. As it is a shrub that thrives near water, it can be planted, together with Cornus stolonifera Flaviramea with its yellow bark, behind a foreground of astilbes, not far from a pond. You can also plant this dogwood in a large container (its compact habit allows it).

Tip: Severely prune the stems in late winter, as only the current year's growth is coloured.