Dogwood - Bloodtwig, Cornus Sanguinea - 18"

Bloodtwig dogwood is a medium-sized deciduous shrub, popular mainly for its straight stems and branches, which turn red in winter after the foliage drops off. The red stems are especially striking against the snow and are often used with cut evergreens in outdoor decorative planters. It has flat-topped fluffy clusters of white flowers in late summer, followed by small black fruit. Bloodtwig dogwood tends to form suckering colonies over time, so it should be sited where it will have room to spread. The best red bark color is on new wood, so annual pruning in early spring is required to keep up the winter interest. It will tolerate some shade, though full sun will bring out the best color.