Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' (Red-twig dogwood, Cream-edge tatarian dogwood)

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' Photo/Illustration: Steve Aitken



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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Botanical Name: Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' KOR-nus AL-bah Common Name: Red-twig dogwood, Cream-edge tatarian dogwood Synonyms: 'Argenteo-marginata' Genus: Cornus
This vigorous deciduous shrub provides a long season of interest in the garden with its variegated leaves, attractive berries, pretty fall color, and red winter stems.
Noteworthy characteristics: Elegantissima's berries are white, often tinged with blue and green. Its fall color is apricot, gold, and rosey-red. It is a very adaptable plant, but better stem and leaf color will be achieved in full sun.
Care: Full sun to part shade, with full sun preferred. Cut back stems to within 2 or 3 buds of the base or to permanent framework in early spring, then feed or apply well-rotted manure and mulch.
Propagation: Take hardwood cuttings in fall and winter.
Problems: Spot anthracnose (dogwood blight), powdery mildew, Discula blight, canker, bacterial leaf spot, and mushroom root rot can occur, while twig borers, weevils, sawfly, scale insects, aphids, leafhoppers, root knot nematodes, and thrips are common.
Height 6 ft. to 10 ft.
Spread 6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Pace Fast Grower
Light Full Sun to Part Shade
Moisture Medium to Wet
Maintenance Moderate
Characteristics Interesting Bark; Showy Foliage; Showy Fruit
Bloom Time Early Summer; Late Spring; Spring; Summer
Foliage Color Variegated Foliage
Flower Color White Flower
Uses Beds and Borders, Specimen Plant/ Focal Point, Waterside
Seasonal Interest Winter Interest, Spring Interest, Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type Shrubs

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