Red Twig Dogwood, Cornus sericea: Red Willow
There are all sorts of plants you can use to provide much needed color in your garden in winter.
I promise, you will stop in amazement if you are out for a winter walk and happen upon a stand of Cornus sericea.
Photograph by Steven Depolo via Flickr.
Cornus sericea is a wide-ranging native shrub found from Alaska and northern Canada down through southern California and Virginia and even Mexico. It is highly adapted to a broad temperature range including severe cold and often appears as an understory plant in forests and woodlands.
Photograph by Jerry Kirkhart via Flickr.
Photograph by Audrey Zharkikh via Flickr.
It is a remarkably easy plant to maintain but its signature bright hue begins to fade as stems age so some judicious pruning is required. Alternatively you can remove about a quarter of the stems every year encouraging colorful new growth while still retaining most of the flowers.
Photograph by Wewon31 via Flickr.
Red twig dogwood branches are a bright contrast to white birch trunks and snow.
Photograph via Signature Plants.
Keep It Alive
Yellow-stemmed dogwood is a variety of red twig dogwood.