Tatarian dogwood
Cornus alba · Cornaceae
📷 Opioła Jerzy (Poland) · CC BY 2.5
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around tatarian dogwood and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to May, small white flowers
- Mature size
- 2.5 m in height and width
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (-30°C)
- Origin
- Siberia, Northern China
- Soil type
- Ordinary, well-drained, tolerant
- Branches
- Bright red in winter, highly decorative
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Cornus alba 'Sibirica' (Siberian dogwood) is mainly grown for its bright red winter stems. Hard pruning in February, just before sap rises, keeps this vivid color and rejuvenates the plant.
The common mistake
Neglecting to rejuvenate the plant: after 5-6 years without hard pruning, stems age, turn brown, and lose their winter appeal.
The pro's trick
Cut back to 30-40 cm from the ground every February.
Care
Watering
White dogwood tolerates wet conditions well but also adapts to dry periods once established. Water regularly during the first year after planting to ensure good rooting. During the growing season, keep the soil moist without waterlogging. Natural rainfall is usually sufficient in temperate climates.
Light exposure
Plant in full sun for abundant flowering and the most intense red coloring of winter branches. It also tolerates partial shade, but the stem color will be less vibrant. Avoid heavily shaded areas that reduce the beauty of fall foliage.
Pruning
Prune heavily each year in late winter (February-March) before growth resumes, cutting branches back by about half to encourage young decorative red shoots. Remove dead or diseased wood. This pruning rejuvenates the shrub and intensifies winter coloring.
Soil and planting
White dogwood adapts to all soil types, whether ordinary or poor, acidic or alkaline. It prefers well-drained soil but tolerates some moisture. No special amendments are needed; basic potting soil at planting is sufficient.
Fertilizing
Undemanding, white dogwood doesn't require regular fertilizing. Applying compost or decomposed manure at the base in spring can support fast growth. In very poor soil, a balanced fertilizer once a year in early spring is beneficial.
Diseases and pests
Very robust, white dogwood is little susceptible to diseases. Watch for powdery mildew in warm, humid conditions and anthracnose in very humid environments. Good drainage and air circulation are generally sufficient to prevent problems.
Did you know?
White dogwood has been appreciated for centuries in Europe for its scarlet-red branches that illuminate winter gardens. In Northern Asia, its blue and white berries long attracted migratory birds, making it a valuable seasonal marker. Some cultures cultivate it for its supposed beneficial properties, but it's mainly its striking winter graphic beauty that makes it a timeless classic of landscape design.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- DogwoodCornus sanguinea
- Cornelian cherryCornus mas
- Red-osier dogwoodCornus sericea
- Giant dogwoodCornus controversa
- Kousa dogwoodCornus kousa
- Japanese cornelian cherryCornus officinalis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.