Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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.
Arctic Sun® Dogwood Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 7 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Sun to Full Sun (5+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 3-4 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- White
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Yellow, Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Fall Interest, Winter Interest, 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Arctic Sun® Dogwood
- Also Known As
- Common Dogwood; Bloody Dogwood
- Botanical Name
- Arctic Sun Cornus sanguinea 'Cato' USPP 19,892
- Brand
- Proven Winners
- Plant Type
- Deciduous
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: FL, ID, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
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