Cornus Alba Elegantissima

Cornus Alba Elegantissima, a variegated cultivar of red-barked dogwood, is renowned for its striking features and exceptional hardiness. With a year-round interest, this vigorous shrub is especially appreciated for its crimson stems that look spectacular against a winter landscape. Cornus Alba Elegantissima has white & green variegated leaves. It is a bushy, deciduous shrub that bears white flowers and berries. The Cornus or Dogwood family are a species of flowering trees or shrubs. 
Although often grown for its vibrant red stems like most other dogwood varieties, Elegantissima has so much more to offer. From spring to late autumn, white and green variegated foliage provides interest. The greyish-green, narrowly ovate leaves, framed bya white, irregular margin turn to purplish-pink in the fall. During May and June, this bushy shrub is embellished by small, creamy-white blossoms borne in flat heads. The flowers are followed by attractive white berries, favoured by birds. 
When it comes to picking a spot for Cornus Alba Elegantissima, you won’t have any trouble. Red-barked dogwood can thrive in any soil, with adequate moisture provided, in full sun to partial shade. To promote vivid colour of the stems in the winter, however, make sure this fast-growing shrub is planted in a sunny location.
A recipient of the Award of Garden Merit by Royal Horticultural Society, this shrub is considered to be of good constitution. With the ability to survive even in the severest European climates, Cornus Alba Elegantissima is fully hardy in Britain and Ireland. Vigorous, with a suckering habit, this medium-sized shrub can grow to be 2.5 to 4 metres high and across.
A low-maintenance plant, Elegantissima requires minimal care and attention to stay in shape. Established specimens of Cornus Alba Elegantissima should be hard pruned to promote new growth. Remove up to a third of old twigs, leaving room for brightly coloured, young stems to develop. 
Adjustable to a variety of different conditions, Cornus Alba Elegantissima is most often used as a specimen plant, or, when planted en masse, for hedges and borders. Standalone, it draws attention with rich, variegated foliage for the better part of the year, and steals the spotlight completely with bare, blood-red branches contrasted by snow. In a hedge or a border, Cornus Alba Elegantissima works best when planted alongside other flowering dogwood varieties such as Cornus Controversa Variegata.