Cornus

Few shrub groups offer as many different kinds of seasonal interest as Cornus, better known as dogwoods. Some are grown for their brilliant red, orange or yellow winter stems, others for variegated foliage, decorative flowers or autumn colour. That versatility makes dogwoods exceptionally useful in planting designed to look considered beyond the main flowering months.

Stem dogwoods are particularly striking once their leaves have fallen, when the youngest shoots provide strong colour against pale winter light. Regular pruning of appropriate varieties encourages fresh stems with the brightest colour, while the leafy plants provide useful summer volume through mixed shrub borders. Other Cornus plants are grown primarily for flowers or foliage, so the habit and care can vary considerably between groups.

Bare-root dogwood shrubs can form an important structural layer in UK gardens, especially where winter interest is part of the design. Group colourful-stemmed Cornus varieties for greater impact, place them where low winter sun can illuminate the shoots, or combine them with grasses and seedheads for a border that remains expressive even in the quietest season.