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Shrub · Cornaceae family

Red-barked dogwood

Cornus alba

Full sun to part shade in a garden 2–3 m × 1.5–2.4 m Flowers May–June to −40 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years2–3 m
in the wild up to 3 m
spacing 2.5 m
FlowersMay–June
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
PruningMarch
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistnot fussy about soil

Watering

only in dry spellsless when it rains

Frost

−40 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m2.4–3 mspread 1.5–3 m
2.4–3 m× spread 1.5–3 m

Plant 2.5 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberPruning: JanuaryPruning: FebruaryPruning: MarchPruning: AprilPruning: MayPruning: JunePruning: JulyPruning: AugustPruning: SeptemberPruning: OctoberPruning: NovemberPruning: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeedingPruning
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June · white

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Pruning

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

hard pruning (March)

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 40 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pruning

When and how to prune.

Months apply to Central Europe.

Red-barked dogwood — Hard pruning

Hard pruning

Mar
How to prunePrune hard: all of last year’s stems back to a low framework or the ground.

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

Dogwood anthracnose

Discula destructiva
disease

What you will see

Dogwood anthracnose is the most serious disease; typically brown spots with a reddish-brown margin on leaves and dieback of lower branches.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not stress the plant, airy spot
    • rake up and dispose of fallen leaves
  2. By hand dormant season / growing seasoncut out and dispose of dead wood, both in the dormant season and during the growing season; rake up and dispose of fallen leaves
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps at bud breaka product authorised in your country against dogwood anthracnose, at bud break
Dogwood anthracnosedisease

What you will see

Dogwood anthracnose is the most serious disease; typically brown spots with a reddish-brown margin on leaves and dieback of lower branches.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not stress the plant, airy spot
    • rake up and dispose of fallen leaves
  2. By hand dormant season / growing seasoncut out and dispose of dead wood, both in the dormant season and during the growing season; rake up and dispose of fallen leaves
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps at bud breaka product authorised in your country against dogwood anthracnose, at bud break
Scale insectspest

What you will see

Immobile scales on the shoots.

How to protect

  1. Gentle spray winter / early springhorticultural oil against overwintering stages
More about this problem

What you will see

Root rot and dieback of the shrub; white fungal sheets under the bark at the base.

When to look

Mushrooms in late summer and autumn; mycelium in the soil all year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not plant in places with honey fungus
    • remove infected shrubs together with the roots
  2. By hand when presentdig out the infected shrub with its roots
Honey fungusdisease · mushrooms in late summer and autumn; mycelium in the soil all year

What you will see

Root rot and dieback of the shrub; white fungal sheets under the bark at the base.

When to look

Mushrooms in late summer and autumn; mycelium in the soil all year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • do not plant in places with honey fungus
    • remove infected shrubs together with the roots
  2. By hand when presentdig out the infected shrub with its roots
More about this problem
Sources (5)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does red-barked dogwood flower?

In May–June; the flowers are white.

Does red-barked dogwood tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does red-barked dogwood need?

At maturity 1.5–3 m wide and 2.4–3 m tall; recommended spacing 2.5 m.

Dogwood anthracnose — what can you do?

do not stress the plant, airy spot cut out and dispose of dead wood, both in the dormant season and during the growing season; rake up and dispose of fallen leaves

Scale insects — what can you do?

horticultural oil against overwintering stages

Sources (16) Checked 24 October 2026

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