Cornus alba ‘Argenteo-marginata’ Elegantissima Variegated Dogwood
‘Argenteomarginata’ is a cultivar that is most noted for its variegated foliage and its bright red twigs in winter. It is a rapid-growing, multi-stemmed, suckering, deciduous shrub that, unless pruned shorter, will grow to a maximum size of 8-10’ tall on erect, usually unbranched stems. The outstanding ornamental features of this cultivar are: (1) bright red winter stems which are particularly showy against a snowy backdrop, (2) ovate to elliptic, gray-green leaves (to 4.5” long) which are broadly edged with cream or white and (3) summer fruits (white drupes tinged with blue-green) that are quite attractive to birds. Tiny, yellowish-white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters (cymes to 2.5” diameter) in late spring, with sparse, intermittent, additional flowering sometimes continuing into summer. Flowers are somewhat insignificant, however, and are often hidden by the foliage. Fall color is variable, but foliage may acquire some interesting shades of rose and gold.
Height: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 5.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Yellowish-white
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Suggested Use: Hedge, Rain Garden
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Leaf: Colorful, Good Fall
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Erosion