Cornus sanguinea or Common dogwood

Care of the shrub Cornus sanguinea or Common dogwood

The genus Cornus, family Cornaceae, includes 40 species of deciduous shrubs and trees native to temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Some species are: Cornus sanguinea, Cornus capitata, Cornus alba, Cornus kousa, Cornus florida, Cornus mas, Cornus alternifolia.

Common names: Bloody dogwood, Common dogwood. This species is native to Europe and western Asia.

They are deciduous shrubs with reddish bark and thin, flexible branches that reach 4 meters (13.12 feet) in height. They have broad, oval-shaped leaves, opposite arrangement, and deep green color that turn reddish in autumn. The white flowers appear grouped in corymbs and have 4 petals. They bloom during the second half of spring and sometimes in fall as well. They produce small bluish-black inedible fruits.

They are used to form clumps of bushes and hedges or to set slopes.

The Cornus sanguinea grows best in a semi-shade exposure in regions with a Mediterranean climate; prefers full sun exposure in regions with cooler summers. They resist cold and frost.

They prefer a soil that contains abundant organic matter and is clayey so that it retains moisture. Transplantation or planting is done in the fall or spring.

Water frequently so that the substrate is always a little damp (they do not resist drought). In summer, increase irrigation (never flood) especially in regions with a Mediterranean climate.

Fertilize in fall with manure or compost and mineral fertilizer in early spring and fall.

They admit rejuvenation pruning in late winter.

They are resistant plants to the usual pests and diseases.

They propagate by seeds sown in spring or by cuttings in spring or autumn. It's convenient to monitor their expansion as they tend to be invasive plants.