Dogwood, Cardinal Red Twig Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' Height: 9 feet Spread: 10 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 2b Other Names: C.stolonifera, Red-Osier Description: An excellent general purpose shrub for northern landscapes, very hardy; good fall color, and bright red stems show up well against the winter snow; can actually grow quite large, plan well ahead Ornamental Features Dogwood, Cardinal Red Twig has clusters of creamy white flowers at the ends of the branches in late spring. It has green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. It produces white berries in late summer. The cherry red branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest. Landscape Attributes Dogwood, Cardinal Red Twig is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and can be pruned at anytime. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Dogwood, Cardinal Red Twig is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Dogwood, Cardinal Red Twig will grow to be about 9 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.
