Crimson twig dogwood (scientifically often known as Cornus sericea) is a surprising deciduous and North American native shrub that may add a burst of coloration to any panorama. With its vibrant pink bark that intensifies within the winter, this plant is a well-liked alternative for gardeners and landscapers alike. (In case you are noticing the shrubs with pink branches this winter – they’re possible pink twig dogwood).
However there’s extra to this shrub than its putting look – it additionally boasts a variety of sensible makes use of, from erosion management to wildlife habitat. Whether or not you’re a seasoned gardener or simply beginning out, learn on to find extra about this versatile and enticing plant. Be taught the place to reap its stunning branches and the way you need to use pink twig dogwood shrubs in vacation decorations in addition to in your winter backyard.
Why is it referred to as Crimson Twig Dogwood?
The plant derives its identify from the distinctive pink coloration of its branches, significantly distinguished through the winter months after the leaves have fallen. The pink branches in winter is especially eye-catching throughout an in any other case brown or white season, and the plant is legendary for including winter curiosity to the backyard. The brand new progress branches and current stems aren’t even pink all yr spherical – they solely flip pink as soon as their leaves have fallen and temps have fallen.
Due to this – Cornus sericea is broadly known as pink twig dogwood, which precisely describes the plant’s defining function. This shrub usually grows to a top of 6 to 9 toes, with an expansion of about 8 to 12 toes. Its leaves are oval-shaped, reverse, and exhibit a deep inexperienced coloration through the rising season, however additionally they flip a vibrant pink within the fall. There are additionally variegated leaf varieties whose stem coloration equally turns pink.
Crimson twig dogwood produces clusters of small white flowers in late spring, adopted by small blue or white berries which are important meals sources for numerous hen species. Each of those could possibly be extra showy; the true purpose you plant them is for a stunning inexperienced backdrop through the yr, adopted by eye-catching pink stems within the winter panorama.
With its putting pink twigs and flexibility to varied soil circumstances, this species has gained reputation in landscaping and is usually cultivated for its decorative worth.
It’s late October right here in New England, and the time is correct to forage or harvest your backyard for the attractive pink twigs of Cornus sericea. In case you are questioning the place all these vivid pink stems come from (that present up simply as Halloween decor disappears) – it’s pink osier dogwood (widespread identify). Latin: Cornus sericea.
Cornus sericea – the dogwood with pink twigs
Crimson Twig dogwood branches are nature’s vacation decor. They typically make wreaths, preparations, and container decorations for the vacations.
A couple of of my commercially bought stems leafed out just a few years again after a light winter with their reduce stems stuffed into the soil of a vacation container. They’d taken root, and as soon as I transplanted them to my backyard, they’ve since thrived (I subsequently have 5 giant dogwood shrubs in my backyard! – all, at no cost because the rooted stems of vacation decor).
Over time since, I’ve discovered just a few ideas for profiting from these shrubs when harvesting their stunning pink stems.
I’ve been working with these loppers from Troy-Bilt all season. These or one thing related for pruning are nice for just a few causes:
- They’ve good lengthy handles, lowering your attain – and subsequently lowering the chance of taking a stem to the attention…(I’ve been there; eye patches, it seems, aren’t as enjoyable as pirates make them out to be).
- These pruners (Troy-bilt Consolation Basic Anvil Loppers) stand as much as my distinctive fashion of software torture. That’s, they arrived in June and haven’t seen the within of a shed since. I’m a messy software particular person – and these loppers have been left on the bottom, within the backyard, draped over a fence, or typically not put away the place they’re protected. I took this photograph final week – and so they nonetheless look and carry out like new.
- Slicing with loppers is way simpler than chopping with common pruners. (provided that these are woody stems). The handles offer you good leverage (for simpler chopping), and the anvil blade offers you a cleaner reduce on a extra inflexible materials (higher for the remaining plant).
When to Harvest Winter Dogwood Stems for Vacation Floral Preparations
Don’t prune again or harvest each stem within the fall!
Taking solely about 30% of the stems is greatest throughout this autumn backyard harvest. The identical goes for vegetation you may discover within the woods you’re chopping from – don’t take all the pieces. You don’t wish to hurt the plant’s winter survival potential.
The place to seek out Wild Crimson Twig Dogwood Branches
Search for this shrub in wild areas with moist soil if you’re foraging. Moist areas alongside river edges in full solar or partial shade are widespread areas to seek out them. A sunnier place will make sure the plant has deeper pink stems. (Wild dogwood rising within the shade will possible have brown and fewer showy coloured stems).
In early spring, you’ll be able to pollard your entire plant again to the bottom degree. (Pollarding is to chop and pack all of the stems to the primary root inventory popping out of the bottom). This may pressure the shrub to place out many new stems you’ll be able to harvest subsequent fall.
When you can’t discover red-twig dogwood within the wild or aren’t rising it in your backyard, I’ve listed some native sources within the northern a part of the USA under. (Together with these the place these photos had been sourced).
-Rochelle
How you can develop and Harvest pink twig dogwood – A Crimson Twig Dogwood FAQ
The pink twig dogwood shrub is often present in North America and is understood for its vibrant pink branches – and it’s a native plant discovered all through the the United Staes. It usually grows in moist, swampy areas, alongside rivers and lakes, and in wetland margins
Crimson twig dogwood cuttings might be taken within the late fall or early spring.
In case you are trimming in order that your shrub seems nice in your backyard, trim in late fall or winter to early spring. This fashion, you’ll be able to see the construction and prune out undesirable branches. In case you are trimming to reap pink stems – await them to show pink within the fall after which reduce them.
Reduce pink twig dogwood branches will final many months, possible from late fall to spring. Whether it is chilly, they could freeze into the soil and root themselves over time because the soil thaws.
Branches involved with soil or water will start to root. Trim stems from the supply and plant roots up within the floor to proceed progress.
Sure, Crimson Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) might be grown in a container. Controlling the scale of its rootball will, nonetheless, cut back the total progress potential. It is going to be a smaller shrub if left within the container long-term.
Sure, although it’s higher within the early spring. This fashion, it’s also possible to benefit from the pink twigs within the backyard all winter.
Crimson Twig Dogwood Grows Quick. You may pollard (that’s, reduce your entire shrub to the bottom) a longtime shrub, and it’ll develop again through the rising season.
Sure, Cornus sericea (pink stem dogwood) will readily root in water or moist soil.
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