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Georgia Gardener

Red Twig Dogwood in Zone 7?

18 years ago

Cornus sericea, var. sericea(Red Twig, Redosier, Red Osier Dogwood)

Wonder if anyone has had long term success in growing this one in the upper Piedmont?

Had one about 20 years ago, but died after a couple of years. Can't say if the cause was heat or lack of constant moisture or both, since they are generally found in Zones 2-5(6A) and usually in somewhat boggy locations.

Anyway, I just received 5 freebie seedlings to kill,er grow, from a nurseryman in TN, who says he has had success in growing them, but he is in Zone 6 and is curious if they will survive down here.

Comments and recommendations would be much appreciated.TIA.

Rb

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Comments (5)

GAAlan
18 years ago
I've always wanted to try one. Occasionally I see them offered, but have resisted the temptation. I am afraid to invest much space to more northerly suited plants, but that doesn't mean I haven't already! I do have a 16 year old Colorado Blue Spruce and 12 year old Dwarf Alberta Spruce. I gave them a chance and they have performed as well as can be expected, which would most likely be the case with the colored twig dogwoods. They could probably survive here, but they would never be as nice as their northern grown relations. My honest opinion would be to plant a couple, but not tie up a lot of real estate with all five.
nita1027
18 years ago
I grow them successfully in my garden in Z7 in Mississippi. They seem to do much better in areas of my garden that have clay soil than in areas with sandy soil (though they grow okay in the sandy spots). Cultural information I found in garden literature suggests that a clay position is best.
Nita
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Fall color doesn't seem to be a noteworthy feature of this one - I'm not seeing it mentioned at all even in commercial literature. If you're seeing poor color on other C. stolonifera in your region, probably best not to count on it from 'Farrow'. Here is a link that might be useful: Cornus plant named `Farrow`
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I have a red twig dogwood and old fashion canary weigela. May I suggest that you put them as far apart from each other as possible. With the dogwood, maybe groundcover would be the best bet. My dogwood is over 7 ft and I have to prune every three weeks or less if we have a good rain. The weigela will be the slower grower but I have had to remove a two shrubs and now a groundcover because I failed to realize how wide this thing will get. The reality hit me when I went over to friend. He has a weigela in the middle of his yard. The thing is huge about 6 ft tall and 5 ft wide. A wine and rose should get about 5 ft wide and the same in height. Please keep this in mind when choosing companion plants
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Sometimes I wonder about myself and other times there is no doubt. I also am growing Cornus 'Bailey's Red Twig' which grows very tall and is a glowing purple red in Winter. The large one died mysteriosly. Perhaps that is why I did not bring it up, but I took one branch and made it into foot long cuttings before there was even a sign of trouble and put them in a pot of soil. Two weeks ago I took them and planted them about, each with a huge mass of roots. They seem fine. The terrible disease affecting dogwoods seems to be only attacking C. florida and I have lost the most mature of the many growing around in the woods.
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Yes, I see that. We don't have trouble growing new sets of stems here though, even though our growing season is much shorter than yours. I think it's just down to regional differences in practices-here young, well-colored stems being deemed worth retaining, there, evidently not. Two ways to get to aprox. the same place. For what it's worth, this plant-Cornus stolonifera-is easily our most common in shrub-carr plant communities. It does better here, in heavier soils underlain by limestone (dolomite) than areas to the north, south, or west, having sandier, loamier, more acidic, etc. soil types. IOW's right at home. Before much development took place, the area just to the south of this city-between another small city, the two cities now running right against each other-was a sea of red in the winter, right to the horizon. Nearly all of that is gone now, just since the 1980's. But volunteer plants are still utterly commonplace in any area not under steady human control. I work in stormwater management, dealing with vegetation issues in and around our many ponds, channels, etc. We use this plant as a routine matter where shrubs are the choice, for banks, wet areas, etc. Often, no planting is required. +oM
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vroomp
18 years ago
I have had success with the Cornus alba which is red branches and variagated leaves here in Atlanta and I have a landscaper buddy who uses the variety you mentioned quite often. They do like a bit more water until established but seem to do ok on their own after the first year or so.
razorback33
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the info. Right now I have them heeled in some very moist soil. When weather is more agreeable, will plant one or 2 in clay soil and pot the rest in a moisture retentive mix.
Tnx again
Rb
Darren Brasser
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Yeah i like dogwood

me

and dogwood

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