White dogwood 'Sibirica'

Дерен белый Сибирика (Cornus alba 'Sibirica') – a cultivar of Cornus alba.

It is a fast-growing deciduous shrub up to 3 m in height and 3-5 m in width. Shoots are thin, decorative, upright, later producing lateral, sprawling basal suckers. Stems are bright purple. The root system is very shallow and fibrous.

Leaves are broadly ovate, pointed at the tips, a lush green color, somewhat wrinkled, paler bluish-white beneath. In autumn they turn raspberry-red.

Flowers are small, creamy-white, gathered in numerous umbel-like inflorescences. It blooms in May-June and again in early autumn.

Fruits are small, round, pea-sized white berries that acquire a bluish tint by autumn.

Hardiness zone: 3 (-30°C)

Location: grows best in sunny or slightly shaded sites.

Soil: grows on various soils except the very poorest, tolerates surface compaction. Spreads strongly in moist conditions.

Planting: planting is best done in spring or autumn. Before planting, soak the seedling in water for a couple of hours. Don’t forget to add compost and humus to the planting hole. The top layer of soil should be mulched. This will protect the young, not yet strong plant from harmful weeds and excessive drought during the summer.

Pruning: Only one- and two-year-old shoots are brightly colored, so to maintain the decorative effect regular rejuvenation pruning and removal of old shoots is recommended to control size and obtain a neat bush with a cluster of bright stems. The dogwood tolerates these operations well. Old shoots are pruned and the crown thinned in autumn and spring. The first pruning is done in spring before bud break. All one-year shoots are cut back, leaving 2-3 buds. The second pruning is carried out in mid to late June and consists of pinching the tips of all grown shoots. Partial pruning of faded shoots in summer is permitted. Heavy pruning leads to intensive shoot growth.

Pests and diseases: resistant to diseases and pests. May be affected by dogwood aphid and scale insects. Resistance to these pests increases with the application of mineral fertilizers and foliar micronutrient feeds. Spraying with carbophos or Decis is effective; infusions of onion, Thermopsis lanceolata, potato tops, or a decoction of common yarrow are also used.

Care: responds well to mineral fertilization and foliar feeding.

Propagation: readily propagates by root suckers.

Uses: provides a strong color accent, especially in autumn and winter (the brightest stem color among dogwoods), recommended for every garden and park, with a wide range of applications. This beautiful cornel looks stunning when planted in groups or by water. Widely used in landscaping and improvement works in single plantings, groups and informal hedges, for winter-spring effects in the garden, and for dry floral arrangements. In Ukrainian landscapes it is promising as a background plant and as protective "screens" along highways. Tolerates urban conditions well. Used in solitary plantings, on edges, and for slope stabilization. White dogwood 'Sibirica' can become the real star of the show in your garden during the winter because of its scarlet stems that seem to glow like fire even on the gloomiest days.