Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’

Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ earns its name from the vivid orange-red stems that glow through winter. We love it here at our Thurning nursery for that reliable colour when little else shows. Summer brings clusters of small creamy-white flowers, loved by pollinators. In autumn, leaves turn rich shades before falling to reveal the stems.

This deciduous shrub grows to 1.5-2m tall and wide with an upright, multi-stemmed habit. It suits most soils, including chalky ones, if not waterlogged. Prefers full sun to partial shade for best stem colour. We’ve grown it successfully on our heavier ground here in Northamptonshire.

Prune hard in late winter to encourage fresh colourful stems. Mulch annually to retain moisture. Fits mixed borders, wild areas, or winter interest hedges. Tough and reliable in UK gardens.