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New England Gardening

shrubby dogwoods - twigs and foliage

NHBabs z4b-5a NH

15 years ago

I currently have a variegated red-twigged dogwood which is lovely early each year, but then gets foliar diseases that leave it looking pretty ratty for much of the summer. It's about 20 years old and came without a tag, so I don't know what variety it is, though it may be a C. alba since it doesn't sucker. I'm looking for input on its replacement (also variegated), both your personal experience and any good resources, either plant collections, virtual, or books (other than the Cappiello & Shadow "Dogwoods") that compare the various varieties. I have a vague memory of someone who posted color photos of the twigs to compare, but I don't remember where.

My questions are

- Is the foliage healthy? (and if so, how long have you had yours)

- How does the twig color compare if renewal pruning is kept up?

- Any info on size and suckering? (though this is the least important for me)

- Does it have soil pH preferences? (Some do better on soil less acidic than mine)

I know there is a shrub forum, but I thought I'd start here and see what local resources and experience is here before I go farther afield. My reading so far implies that there may well not be vareigated shrubby dogwood with healthy foliage for the northeast. What is your experience?

Thanks!

Babs

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Comments (4)

Penelope
15 years ago
I'll be interested in your responses. We planted four red-twigged dogwood for the first time this summer, though I don't know what variety they are. Three of them got mildewed foliage. They were planted at the edge of a newly-installed lawn area and I used overhead sprinkling. The fourth plant, in another area that wasn't subject to as much overhead watering, stayed healthier. It seems they're awfully sensitive to getting wet. I'm anxious to see how they perform next summer.
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runktrun
15 years ago
Babs,
I have a vague memory of someone who posted color photos of the twigs to compare, but I don't remember where. This has been driving me crazy as I know I saw the same post and I am 95% certain it was at Dave's Trees & Shrubs forum. They no longer offer a forum search and I wasn't able to come up with anything using google. It was a really fabulous photo comparison as I recall and would be interested if you ever find it.
I do recall Sedum posting some great photos of her yard where she used a couple of variegated plants to brighten up a darker spot and I am thinking that one was a fabulous variegated Cornus.
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arbo_retum
15 years ago
Broken Arrow Nursery grows and sells the largest variety of variegated shrubs, incl. cornus, that I have seen in New England. They are very helpful down there. Their catalogue is online.I would call and talk to them both about the mildew and other plant options.adam and andy are both great.
i believe both my cornus Hedgerow gold and Goutchaltii came from them. yellow and grn varieg. leaf, red twigs.
best,
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molie
15 years ago
Absolutely contact Broken Arrow Nursery. This past year we bought a beautiful Cornus Alba 'Bailhalo' Ivory Halo. It was magnificent all summer with beautiful white-edged leaves and is striking now in the garden with bare red branches. The Janeses are wonderfully helpful and also famous for their Mt. Laurels.
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