European Dogwood Cornus sanguinea

The Bloodtwig Dogwood is a deciduous flowering shrub that is upright, bushy, multi-stemmed, and twiggy. It may grow up to 8 to 15 feet tall when it matures. The shrub has clusters of small white flowers in the spring and purplish-black drupes in the late summer. The colorful red stems and twigs add interest to a winter garden.

This plant is native to Europe and as far east as Lebanon and Caucasus. 

The genus name, Cornus, is Latin for the word, cornu, which means "horn." This references the hardness of the wood. The species name, sanguinea, is also Latin and means "blood red." This references the reddish twigs and young stems of the plant as well as the fall foliage. Other names for this plant include European Dogwood, Blood-twigged Dogwood, Dogberry, and Common Dogwood. 

The Bloodtwig Dogwood may be planted in full sun to partial shade. It is tolerant of a wide variety of soil types and prefers moist and well-drained soils. They may be reproduced by seeds, hardwood cuttings, or suckers. This shrub tends to form thickets. Pruning may be required to maintain the plant's shape. Young plants tend to have the most attractive red stems. The stems become dull green as the shrub matures. Some gardeners prune the shrubs each year so the shrubs will be forced to grow new stems and maintain their red color. 

The leaves are dark green, and the fall color is reddish-purple. The small white flowers have an unpleasant fragrance and appear as flat clusters. The fruits are purplish-black drupes. The stems are slender, hairy, and typically purple to dark red. 

The flowers attract butterflies for nectar and pollen, and the birds are attracted to the fruits as a food source.

The Bloodtwig Dogwood brings interest to the landscape or garden in multiple seasons. Consider this plant as a shrub border, hedge, or screening,  It would bring color to any Informal or Cottage Garden.

Seasons of Interest: 

Foliage:  Fall   Bloom:  Spring     Fruit: Late Summer    Twigs and Stems:  Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• Stems and twigs are red
• Simple, dark green leaves transition to greenish-purple to reddish-purple in the fall
• Clusters of small white flowers in the spring
• Fruits are purplish-black drupes maturing late summer

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems:  The Bloodtwig Dogwood has no serious insect or disease problems. They may be attacked by horse chestnut scale. Anthracnose may affect weak shoots.  

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

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.