#stemcolour

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 23 January 2019

The suckering, deciduous shrub Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' (red osier dogwood, red twig dogwood) forms thickets of yellow-orange stems with red tips, which produce the strongest colours in the winter. Here the stems contrast with the Miscanthus in the background and the Helleborus used as groundcover.

Jill Raggett

[iplantsman]

I mentioned it before and if you don’t know it, you probably should and will want to. Today’s fiery #oneadayplant Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ (Midwinter Fire Dogwood). . This variety is by far the most successful in a series of (maybe 7, not sure) similarly coloured forms raised in Holland in the 1980s. The other variety in the series that you see reasonably regularly is ‘Winter Beauty’ (which some sources will say is a synonym for ‘Midwinter Fire’, but I disagree), which is very similar, with differences only noticeable when they are all grown side-by-side in my opinion. This is perhaps why the variety with the catchiest name is the one we all know and grow. . Essentially, what you have is a young stem that ranges from yellow-orange at the base, through orange to red at the tips. Similar autumn leaf colouring too as the picture shows. Cornus sanguinea types are slower and lower growing than C. alba and are also better at side-branching, giving you a more dense and twiggy plant. This means more colour and a nicely domed shape too, but also impacts on pruning regimes. Height & Spread C1.5m (5’) . Where Cornus alba varieties can be chopped to near the ground every year and still get good growth, a hard prune on Cornus sanguinea types should only be done every three or so years. Worth planting in groups so that you can hard prune them in a cycle to ensure that there is always something to look at. . Best in sun. Stem colour and autumn colour depend on this really. They will flower and fruit; neither particularly special, but not unattractive either. Reasonable soil moisture is a must. Too dry and the summer foliage will crisp up. Of all the species grown for stem colour this is probably the one that will take the driest spots, but still likes a good drink, so not one for Sandy soils or clay that bakes dry in summer. . A lovely fire to warm your chilly autumn and winter days. . #cornus #dogwood #cornussanguinea #cornussanguineamidwinterfire #fire #orange #yellow #red #autumncolour #fallcolor #leaves #foliage #stems #stemcolour #iplantsman #gardening #plantingdesign #gardeningadvice #pruningguide #gardeningtips #howtogrow #flowers #fruits (at Crowborough, East Sussex) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHFfErkgPVR/?igshid=j9loypupxxzy

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 22 January 2019

The young purple stems of Salix irrorata (blue-stem willow) develop a striking white bloom in winter with grey catkins with red anthers in early spring. Just before bud burst these stems will be cut back to the main stem (leg) to allow new shoots to develop in the coming season to provide the best display for next winter, this pruning process is known as stooling.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 27 December 2017

Winter warmth is supplied by the colour of the new growth of Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' (dogwood) and in the foreground the strong form of the stems of Rhus typhina (stag's horn sumach) and a topiary Taxus baccata (yew). 

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 2 January 2018

At the RHS Hyde Hall Garden the winter stem display of Salix daphnoides ‘Aglaia’ (violet willow) have been used to create some abstract ephemeral art for the winter garden. In the spring, prior to bud burst, the stems can be pruned and composted. The new growth has the strongest colouring for the next winter display.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 29 December 2017

The dramatic flared stems of Euonymus alatus 'Blade Runner' (winged spindle tree) is a recent cultivar that reliably develops distinct corky winged blades running the length of the branches. It is a vigorous deciduous shrub, at first upright then spreading, and in the autumn produces a bright red display of foliage. 

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 6 January 2018

The shaping of this Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' (scarlet willow, coral bark willow) growth is temporary for the winter season. This cultivar of willow has been aptly described as “a wonderful firecracker in the winter garden”. The new shoots are the most colourful and are promoted by coppicing or pollarding - that is cutting back the entire crown each spring prior to bud burst. This also retains the crown size of this vigorous deciduous tree. 

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day Thursday 4 January 2018

Here the young dark purple shoots of Salix daphnoides green form (violet willow) have been tied together for a winter show. In early spring silky, grey catkins up to 4cm long will appear. The tied growth will be pruned before bud burst to promote now shoots that will have the best stem colour for the next winter display.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 9 December 2017

The arching orange-red bristles on the stems of Rubus phoenicolasius (Japanese wineberry, Japanese climbing bramble) catch the winter sunshine. This deciduous rambler has pale green leaves with white undersides, turning yellow in autumn. The small, white flowers appear in the summer and are followed by dense clusters of shiny, orange-red berries. It grows in most locations but does best in a sunny position with a moist well drained, fertile soil. The old canes (stems) can be cut to the ground after fruiting.

Jill Raggett

[iplantsman]

Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’ (Red Osier/Dogwood) today’s oneadayplant . There are hundreds of named forms of Cornus alba, C. sericea, and C. sanguinea, which are the three main species for what we grow as winter stem coloured dogwoods. Many of these cultivars don’t appear as regularly as the 5 or so very commonly used varieties, the two most available being C. alba ‘Sibirica’ and C. sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’. Nothing wrong with these varieties; in fact they are great performers. I would urge you to visit a collection of them to choose your favourite however. RHS Wisley and The Hillier Arboretum and Wakehurst Place are good places, but lots of gardens feature them boldly used en masse. . I like Cardinal, because it is a coral red with a touch of orange and the odd uncoloured lime-green stem. It doesn’t have the razzmatazz of some, but is a classy thing! . I also like the rarely planted Cornus alba ‘Kesselringii’, which has black stems, but it needs a contrast like a white wall or perhaps C. sericea ‘Flaviramea’ which has lime green stems, to make it shine. Even partnered with this form will make it stand out. . Full sun a must for lots of well coloured growth and a bright spot to help them shine. As you can see it also has great autumn colour. They like a fair amount of soil moisture and can even be grown with there roots at a pond or rivers edge to decent success. . Prune back hard every other year at leaf bud burst to get the best of the colour and growth. If you do every year they weaken as plants. If you don’t prune, the colour fades quickly as the wood ages. Best planted in groups where you have a cycle of pruned and unpruned plants each year. . #cornus #cornussericea #cornussericeacardinal #dogwood #osier #autumncolour #fallcolor #autumn #stemcolour #red #orange #coral #lime #gardening #wintergarden #rhswisley #wakehurstplace #hillierarboretum #winter #colouredstems #leaves #plantsformoistsun #sunlover #fire #colour (at Crowborough, East Sussex) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHAipdPAIys/?igshid=19ei4qzypxsze

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day Wednesday 3 January 2018

The new growth of Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Yelverton’ (golden willow) provides the vivid colours for the winter season. Here the stems have been twisted and tied into abstract patterns to add an extra dimension to the winter garden. The stems will be removed in early spring to promote new growth on the ‘leg’ - the main upright stem.

Jill Raggett