Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood

Colorful stems and changing variegated foliage make the Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood a winner for all seasons. Also known as Cornus alba 'Verpaalen2', this dogwood’s foliage emerges green and white with a pink tinge before it turns a stunning burgundy-pink in the fall. If that wasn’t enough, it produces dainty white flowers on burgundy stems in spring as well. With a final height of 6 feet, the Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood provides a great backdrop for other plants. 

Tough and winter hardy down to zone 3, the Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood is easy to grow and care for. Good deer resistance means that it is a great choice for areas where Bambi and friends roam freely. It is a tall, deciduous shrub with an upright form, which works well at the back of a border or as a mass planting. 

Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood Care

The Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood can be successfully grown in full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of moist soil types but prefers moist and well-drained soil. Regular irrigation is needed until Sgt. Pepper™ is fully established. Once established, watering is only needed when rainfall is scarce. Although not strictly necessary, you can apply a shrub fertilizer in early spring or mulch annually to give it a boost. 

Pruning is not generally not required; however, the best stem color is produced on 1 to 2-year-old wood. For the brightest stems, prune out one-third of the oldest wood every year in late winter. 

Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood Spacing

When fully grown, the Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood can hit 4 to 6 feet high and 6 to 8 feet across. A spacing of 72 - 96 Inches is recommended depending on how tightly you want the shrubs to grow. 

Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood Information