Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’

Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ is a medium (height 1.5-2.5m x spread 1.5-2.5m) deciduous shrub with a suckering habit. Left unpruned it can become a dense thicket. In gardens it is usually regularly coppiced to encourage the new stems that are flame-coloured throughout the winter. The base of the stems are yellow and graduate to more intense colours at the tips. The oval leaves turn orange-yellow in the autumn, especially in sunnier aspects. Flowers are small and cream coloured, held in terminal clusters.

Cornus sanguinea selections are valuable additions for winter interest providing colour from October to March. Plant in small, well-spaced groups of different varieties for maximum impact. Cornus sanguinea ‘Anny’s Winter Orange’ is an even more intensely coloured selection.