Red-Barked Dogwood Cornus alba

Tatarian dogwood is a shrub in the Cornaceae or dogwood family. It is grown for its ornamental value and winter interest.  It can be pruned to grow as a small tree. It has an upright and loose form that arches with long unbranched stems as it ages.  It tends to sucker to form large colonies, so root pruning may be necessary. 

Tatarian dogwood is native to eastern and central Asia or in areas inhabited by Tatars. Tatars are members of the Turkic ethnic group that live in Tatarstan, parts of Russia, and Ukraine.

The genus name, Cornus, is from the Latin word, cornu, which means "horn,' referencing the hardness of the wood. The species name, alba, means "white." This references the white fruits.

The shrub prefers full sun to partial shade in moist, well-drained soil. It is tolerant of a range of soil conditions. The best blood-red color appears on the new stems. In the spring, the oldest stems should be removed to encourage new growth. 

The Tatarian dogwoods fruits attract birds, and the stems provide nesting sites.  Flowers are visited by specialized bees. butterflies, and other pollinators. This plant is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits.

Naturalistic plantings in moist soils where plants are allowed to spread and form thickets will make for a low-maintenance landscape that prevents erosion. Mass plant them to use as a property line screen, hedge, or in a shrub border. Site shrubs as accents in areas where key ornamental features and the vibrant red stem color can be appreciated like near a patio or along a walkway. The showy stems provide winter interest in the landscape.

Seasons of Interest

Foliage: Fall       Bloom: Spring              Fruits: Mid-Summer            Twigs: Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• a multi-stemmed shrub with arching and erect habit
• red stems during the fall and winter, greenish-red stems during the summer
• prominent lenticels on the stems
• dark green leaves and upper surface has wrinkled appearance
• fall foliage yellowish to reddish-purple
• clusters of creamy white blooms
• clusters of white drupes with a bluish tinge

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: Leaf miner and scale are less serious potential insect pests. When stressed, the shrub is susceptible to a large number of disease problems. The most serious is dogwood anthracnose. Other diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot, and leaf and twig blight. It can also become vulnerable to borers. This shrub is more vulnerable to diseases in hot summer climates, especially south of USDA  Zone 7. The plant is weedy, and its suckering can make it difficult to remove. Please consider your planting site carefully. 

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.