Cornus sericea Cardinal - Stoloniferous Dogwood

Cornus sericea (or stolonifera) 'Cardinal' is one of those extremely hardy North American bushes accustomed to frozen soils that bring a touch of fantastic colour to a misty winter. With its rapid growth, it transforms into a large bundle of branches, the striking raspberry red of which is truly remarkable, especially when snow falls. Its deciduous foliage that turns red in autumn before falling is an additional asset, as are its small white-blue berries that follow its rather discreet spring flowering and delight birds. Stunning when planted alone or mixed with other varieties with coloured wood, this somewhat magical shrub also dazzles in front of a screen of conifers or evergreens with dark, golden, or purple foliage.

Cornus sericea belongs to the dogwood family, just like its Asian cousin, Cornus alba, with which it shares many characteristics. Native to eastern North America, from Alaska and Newfoundland to Virginia, this stoloniferous dogwood, also known as red osier dogwood, is extremely hardy but cannot tolerate heat or dry soils. In the wild, this species colonises wet banks and marshy areas by rapidly spreading through stolons.

The 'Cardinal' cultivar stands out for the unique colour of its wood in winter. The bush has a dense and spreading habit and reaches an average height of 2.5 m (8.2 ft) with a spread of 3-4 m (9.8-13.1 ft) if not restricted in its lateral development. It has opposite, ovate, lanceolate leaves, 5-10 cm (2-3.9 in) that are long and strongly veined, and which are initially green but turn purple to red in autumn. The young branches, yellow-green to acidic green, gradually turn reddish-orange before taking on their characteristic bright raspberry red hue. The flowers, which are not very visible, are flat-topped clusters of a white-yellowish colour, 3-5 cm (1.2-2 in) in diameter, giving way to white or bluish berries which are quite decorative but quickly disappear due to the appetite of birds.

Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' can be planted individually in a small garden or in the background of flower beds, in large groves in combination with other stoloniferous dogwoods such as 'Flaviramea', 'Kelsey Gold', 'Silver and Gold', or bloodtwig dogwoods or Florida dogwoods for a mix of colours. Its red branches warm up the dark green evergreen foliage and accompany the spring flowering of azaleas, pieris, and rhododendrons in acidic soil. Use it as a border for a free hedge mixed with laurustinus, choisya, nandina, or camellia. It is widely used to fill large slopes and create beautiful hedges in gardens. If your garden soil is occasionally waterlogged or poorly drained, this shrub will give you complete satisfaction, just like guelder roses, bald cypresses, or fringe trees.