Variegated Red Twig Dogwood is a fast-growing deciduous shrub that delivers year-round garden interest through its striking variegated foliage in summer and brilliant red stems that glow throughout winter. This cultivar of Cornus alba reaches 8 to 9 feet tall with an upright, spreading habit, making it an excellent choice for creating living screens, accent plantings, or colorful winter focal points. Hardy in zones 2 through 8 and thriving in full sun to partial shade, it requires minimal maintenance once established while transforming winter landscapes with its vibrant red branches.
Partial Sun
Moderate
2-8
96in H x ?in W
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High
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The real draw here is the dual-season appeal: soft variegated leaves brighten the garden during the growing months, then drop to reveal luminous red stems that become the backbone of your winter garden. Unlike solid-colored dogwoods, this variegated form adds an extra layer of sophistication to the landscape even before the stems take center stage. It grows quickly and spreads naturally into a full, graceful form without demanding fussy pruning or constant attention.
Variegated Red Twig Dogwood shines as an accent plant in garden beds, where its variegated foliage and winter color create visual impact from multiple seasons. Plant several in a row to form a colorful living fence along property lines or walkways, taking advantage of its spreading habit and moderate height to create natural privacy screens and windbreaks. The bright stems are particularly valued for winter arrangements and as focal points in the dormant landscape when most other shrubs fade to brown.
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Prune Variegated Red Twig Dogwood in late winter or early spring before growth begins. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches, then selectively thin older canes to the base to encourage vigorous new red stem production. The shrub's natural spreading habit is attractive, so avoid shearing it into formal shapes; instead, work with its upright-spreading growth pattern to maintain an open, graceful form.
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