European Dogwood Cornus sanguinea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Swida sanguinea
- Thelycrania sanguinea
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus san-GWIN-ee-ah
- Description
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The blood-twig dogwood is a deciduous, flowering shrub that is upright, bushy, multi-stemmed, and twiggy. This plant is native to Europe and as far east as Lebanon and Caucasus. The species epithet, sanguinea, is Latin and means "blood red." This references the reddish twigs and young stems of the plant. It is a member of the dogwood family (Cornaceae).
The blood-twig 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 stems have the most intense red color; the stems become dull green as they mature. Some gardeners prune or coppice the shrubs each year so that they grow fresh, new stems every spring.
The blood-twig dogwood may grow up to 8 to 15 feet tall when it matures. The leaves are dark green, and the fall color is reddish-purple. The shrub has clusters of small white flowers in the spring and purplish-black drupes in the late summer. The small white flowers have an unpleasant fragrance. The flowers attract butterflies for nectar and pollen, and the birds are attracted to the fruits.
The Bloodtwig Dogwood brings interest to the landscape or garden in multiple seasons. The colorful red stems and twigs add interest to a winter garden. Consider this plant as a shrub border, hedge, or screening, It would bring color to any winter or cottage garden
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 in late summer
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: The blood-twig 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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Cato'
3-4 feet tall, dark red winter stems with orangish-red tips - 'Midwinter Fire'
5-6 feet tall, winter stems red at the base with yellow-orange tips - 'Winter Beauty'
- 'Winter Flame'
8-10 feet tall, bright red and orange winter stems
- 'Cato'
- 'Cato', 'Midwinter Fire', 'Winter Beauty', 'Winter Flame'
- Tags:



















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cato'
3-4 feet tall, dark red winter stems with orangish-red tips - 'Midwinter Fire'
5-6 feet tall, winter stems red at the base with yellow-orange tips - 'Winter Beauty'
- 'Winter Flame'
8-10 feet tall, bright red and orange winter stems
- 'Cato'
- 'Cato', 'Midwinter Fire', 'Winter Beauty', 'Winter Flame'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- sanguinea
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Lebanon and Caucasus
- Distribution:
- Native: Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Italy, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, South European Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yugoslavia. Introduced: United States--MA, PA, and WA
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds and plants provide nesting sites. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are purple-black drupes measuring about 0.25 inches in diameter. The drupes contain a smooth or slightly grooved stone. The fruits mature from August to September and have a bitter taste.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The small, dull, white flowers have an unpleasant odor. They are arranged in flat clusters or cymes that measure 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. The sepals and flower stalks have downy hairs. The petals measure 0.25 inches long. They bloom from May to early June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green, simple, elliptic to ovate, and measure 2 to 4 inches long and 0.75 to 1.75 inches wide. Pale scattered hairs are found on both sides of the leaves. The fall leaves may be a greenish-purple to a reddish-purple.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- The red bark is on the new wood. Regular pruning will help promote the red color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are slender, hairy, dark maroon to reddish-brown. The older branches are dull green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees