Cornus Sanguinea Midwinter Fire

Cornus Sanguinea Midwinter Fire, commonly known as Midwinter Fire Dogwood, has many ornamental features but is perhaps most renowned for its vibrant reddish bark, particularly in winter. The colours of the stem range from bright yellow at the bottom to warm orange tones turning scarlet towards the tip. The shrub’s attractive features are most prominent once the leaves have fallen in winter when the stem and bark are at their most vivid and vibrant. Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire is a spectacular statement plant for your garden. 

A deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub, in late spring / early summer, Cornus Midwinter Fire forms milky white clusters of flowers. In summer, the small white flowers give way to dark purple berries, which are both a treat for the birds and highly decorative. In autumn, the green foliage turns a bright orange-yellow. However, the most noticeable feature of the Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire are its flame-like stems. Once the foliage drops off in the winter, this unique shrub really stands out. Since Cornus Sanguinea is fully hardy throughout the UK, you’ll be able to enjoy this flamboyant shrub even if the temperatures drop to -20 degrees.  A North European native, Midwinter Fire dogwood tolerates most types of soil, but thrives in a moist, well-drained position. When it comes to sunlight, Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire’ prefers full sun to partial shade. This deciduous shrub can grow up to 1.5-2.5 metres high and across, achieving its ultimate height over a 5 to 10 year period.  

Easy to grow and easy to care for, Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire isn’t only appealing because of its distinctive stems.  It also makes for a great informal hedge. Its suckering habit allows it to spread fast, which is especially convenient if you need a fast-growing shrub to fill in an empty space in the garden. Since Cornus sanguinea is generally pest and disease free, you can plant it en masse without fear of fungus or other infestations spreading. 
 
Resilient and practically maintenance-free, Cornus Midwinter Fire requires little to no pruning. Because of the striking colour of Midwinter Fire’s young stems, some gardeners prefer to cut the old stems down to the ground in the early spring, every 2 to 3 years. If you’re not keen on leaving a bare spot in your garden for weeks on end, the alternative is to remove a third of the old stems each spring, which will stimulate new growth. 

If you are looking for more shrubs with an impressive winter look, take a peek at more dogwood cultivars or our selection of ornamental shrubs.