Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood

• Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
• Mature Height 6 - 8 Feet
• Mature Spread 6 - 8 Feet
• Growing Zones 3 - 9

Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' Red Twig Dogwood features lush medium green foliage and small clusters of white flowers during Spring and Summer. Even better, within its name, the Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood transitions to vibrant red branches during the late Fall and throughout Winter. Each individual plant can grow to be 6’-9’ tall and up to 10’ wide. Though the best parts of this plant may seem to revolve around the aesthetic features, don’t be fooled! Native to North America, this beauty is wonderful for birds and butterflies alike! Butterflies love to feed on the nectar of the white flowers. When planted in groups of three or more, the Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood creates the perfect environment for nesting birds and the flowers turn to light-blue berries that feed them.

Whether you choose to plant a single Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood or several in a group planting, the features will only enhance your landscape. Deer resistant, you likely will not have to worry about walking outside to find your beloved plant chewed to pieces. This is because other plants are much more palatable to your local deer.

Once established, these beauties are considered drought tolerant. Minimal pruning of approximately 25% each year will ensure the branches and foliage continue to prosper year after year. Although it is not evergreen, this plant is a showstopper in every season.

Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood Care

Plant in partial sun or full sun and ensure it receives at least 4 hours of sun per day. When planting, create an equal soil mixture of aged compost and native soil to continually feed nutrients to the plant as it establishes. If the foliage appears to be turning yellow/brown during the Spring and Summer or if the red tones are not as vibrant throughout the winter, additional fertilizing may be needed. In early spring as the first buds begin to appear, add a thin layer of aged compost along the base of the plant.

In most cases, the soil will not need pH amendments as it is versatile in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils alike. Although it is considered drought tolerant once established, this plant appreciates a consistent watering schedule. For the most vivid results, ensure it is kept properly moist when exposed to extreme heat or when you have not received rain for 1-2 weeks. In contrast, the Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood tolerates wet and bog-like soil.

The red twigs appear most vibrantly on the youngest branches. To achieve peak results, prune 25% of the plant while it is in dormancy. Start with the older, damaged twigs first and remove them by pruning at the base of each twig. Then go through and remove more that appear thicker than others. Do this throughout the entire crown until you have removed approximately ¼ of the twigs. If this is too much yearly maintenance, another option may be to allow 2-3 years between prunings. With this method, you will prune all twigs down to the ground to encourage new growth.

Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood Spacing

The Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood does well by itself,  in group plantings or as a barrier. With a spread of nearly 10’, keep in mind how dense you’d like your plants to be. When planting a single Cardinal Red Twig Dogwood, keep at least 10’ distance between all other plants. When in group plantings, you may choose to plant a bit closer and have them 6’-8’ apart. As with group plantings, barrier planting can be achieved by spacing each plant 6’-8’ apart.

SKU:

1003296-pc