Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' is a deciduous dogwood chosen not for flowers but for drama, structure and winter colour that feels painterly rather than brash. Forming a gently spreading shrub to around two metres, it develops a framework of glowing young stems that shift from molten orange to ember-red, threaded with soft yellow at the tips. In spring and summer, oval green leaves clothe the stems, offering a calm backdrop before falling cleanly in autumn. Though the small white flowers are modest, they play a supporting role, allowing the true performance of Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' to build quietly through the seasons.
Come winter, Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' earns its place in the garden, when low light and frost sharpen the intensity of its coloured stems. Planted en masse or allowed to glow against dark evergreens, it brings warmth when borders most need it. Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' thrives in moist, well-drained soil and responds well to hard pruning in early spring, which encourages the brightest new growth. Reliable, resilient and wonderfully atmospheric, Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' is equally at home in contemporary planting schemes or more naturalistic gardens, where its shifting colours echo winter sunsets.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'
- Established height
- 1-2m
- Established spread
- 1-2m
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Clump-forming
Upright - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Red, orange, yellow
- Mouse resistant
- Yes
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 4 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- RHS Award (AGM)
- Yes
- Scented
- Yes
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Clay
Loam
Multipurpose compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Wildlife gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade
Dappled shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1-2 years
Cornus 'Midwinter Fire' reviews
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Expert care from
choice to delivery
Our horticulturalists prepare every bulb and plant with the utmost care. From selection to packing, each one receives expert attention before beginning its journey to your garden.