Arctic Sun® Dogwood

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

3-4 Feet

Growing Zones

4 to 7

Arctic sun dogwood will bring year-round color to your garden in multiple ways as the seasons change. Bright green leaves appear on the deciduous shrub in the spring. The foliage turns a golden hue in the fall. The stems become bright yellow with red tips as the winter weather grows colder. This shrub is attractive year-round but is primarily grown for adding colorful winter interest to the garden.

Dogwoods are native to North America. Arctic Sun Cornus sanguinea 'Cato' can be used as a low hedge, garden border or in mass plantings. The winter stems can also be used in floral arrangements. Attractive 4 petaled star-shaped white bracts surround the small flowers in early summer on old wood. The flowers fade and dark purple berries appear just before the foliage changes color in autumn. It’s deer resistant and birds and butterflies are attracted to its flowers and berries.

Arctic Sun Dogwood Care

This compact shrub will grow in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 7 in a full to partial sunny location. It will reach between 3 and 4 feet in height and width at maturity. This dwarf shrub is perfect for residential landscapes. Arctic Sun Dogwood prefers consistently moist, well-drained soils. This dwarf variety is non-suckering, so no major maintenance is required. Some gardeners remove 20 to 25% of the oldest stems in early spring each year to stimulate new growth. One and two-year-old stems are more colorful during the winter months.

Arctic Sun Dogwood Spacing

Space multiple specimens 4 to 5 feet apart on center. Its fibrous root system makes it easy to transplant and establish in the garden.