Sgt. Pepper™ Dogwood (Cornus)
Shrub
- Green foliage transitions to a bright pink color come late summer.
- Deep red stems during fall/winter look beautiful in harvest decor!
- Versatile, durable, and deer resistant.
- Award-winning dogwood from Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs.
- Zones 3-7, sun/part sun, up to 6′ tall x 8′ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Dogwood is a super durable native shrub that can take almost anything you can throw at it - shade, wet soil, deer, rabbits, and more. Nothing can stop this plant from doing what it does best: looking fantastic in the gloomiest part of the year. The stems look bright against a winter landscape and are a staple in holiday arrangements and tablescapes.
Details
Patent: USPP 34,377; CBRAF
Common name: Tatarian dogwood, white dogwood
Zone: 3 - 7
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 4-6' tall x 6-8' wide
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Spring through winter
Bloom time: Spring
Features: Winter interest, wet soils, suitable for slopes, Proven Winners, drought tolerant, deer resistant, cold tolerant
Uses: Accent, background, border, erosion control or embankment, foundation, hedge, massing, naturalizing, rain garden, slopes, specimen, waterside, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Sun/part sun/shade. Will grow and survive in deep shade, but will not flower strongly, nor will its winter color be quite as vivid as if it gets some sun.
Water: Readily tolerates wet conditions and is often found growing on river banks and lakeshores in the wild. Established plants can tolerate some drought, but extreme drought may compromise aesthetics.
Spacing: 6-10' apart
Fertilizing: Supplemental fertilizer is not required. However, if you want faster growth, apply a granular rose or garden fertilizer in early spring, then again in early summer if desired.
Winterizing: No special care needed. A 2-3" layer of shredded bark mulch is beneficial. Stems can be cut for decorations and arrangements if desired.
Maintenance & Pruning: Not strictly required. However, for best red stem coloration, prune about a third of the branches to the ground in late winter/early spring.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.