Plant of the Moment

Gallery of previous Plants of the Moment

Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea' and Cornus alba growing in a group make a striking display when illuminated by winter sunshine. They are more suited to a larger site where they can form a large clump and later-developing plants can be planted in the foreground to cover their more bland appearance later in the year when the foliage covers the stems. They make a good understory in a woodland setting.
They require regular pruning to keep the mass of younger stems which have a brighter colour and to stop them becoming too big - especially C. alba. C. stolonifera is more compact, but as the name suggests it spreads by suckering. Usually removing a third of the older stems near to ground level every year will suffice, but overgrown specimens will recover from more severe pruning. The best time is just as they are coming into leaf. The prunings root very easily or can be used as plant supports - let them dry out for a few weeks first or they will take root.

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