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AWARD WINNING

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photo of Mike Farrow

Meet the Breeder

Mike Farrow
Maryland, USA

AWARD WINNING

ARCTIC FIRE® Red

Dogwood - Red Twig

Cornus sericea

'Farrow'

PP#18,523

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Bright red Arctic Fire red twig dogwood in early spring landscape Red branches of Arctic Fire Cornus in field with blue sky behind them Close up of red Arctic Fire Cornus branches Winter landscape with bright red Arctic Fire Cornus contrasting against pure white snow Arctic Fire Cornus in snowy landscape YouTube video describing the plant shown on this page
  • Native to North America
  • Compact habit
  • Deer resistant
Description

Light up the winter landscape with Arctic Fire® Red red-twig dogwood, which sports vibrant red stems all winter long. While the bright stems are the main appeal of Arctic Fire® Red, it does get tiny white flowers in spring that support pollinators. A compact red-twig dogwood, Arctic Fire® Red is just 3-5’ tall and wide, rather than the 8-10’ size of conventional varieties, making it much better suited for residential landscapes. Bring the outdoors in and use Arctic Fire® Red dogwood as a cut stem for holiday arrangements or for season-long color indoors. Native to North America, this Cornus sericea (formerly known as Cornus stolonifera) is drought-tolerant and deer and rabbit-resistant. 

Awards
MOBOT Tried and True
USDA Zone
2 - 7 (-50°F/-45°C)
Exposure
Full sun, Part sun
Height
3 - 5'
Width
3 - 5'
Finish Time
1.5 seasons
Type
Deciduous
Bloom Time
Spring
Flower Color
White
Foliage Color
Green
Liner Sizes
2 1/4", 4", Quick Turn

Soil

Highly adaptable, but does best in moist, even wet soils. Tolerates dry conditions once established.

Pruning

To maintain best stem color, keep primarily to just one and two year old stems. The entire plant can be cut to stumps each spring (note that this will remove flowers), or one-third of the oldest branches can be removed at ground level each spring.

Uses

Mass plantings; cutting gardens; naturalizing; hedges; rain gardens; cutting gardens; foundation plantings.

Growing Tips

Pruning is essential for these plants to maintain their best feature: bright red stems. Determine which method to use based on your design intentions for the plant. Provide good air circulation to minimize leaf spot. One of the most shade tolerant ornamental shrubs. Excellent for cutting. Note: stem color develops in autumn and persists through spring.

  • Grower Sheet: Arctic Fire® Cornus grower sheet
  • Benchcard: Arctic Fire® Red Cornus benchcard
  • Tag: Arctic Fire® Red Cornus
  • Spec Sheet: Arctic Fire® Cornus spec sheet
  • Booklet/Brochure: A New Vision for Native Shrubs

    • Features: Cut flower, Native, Attracts pollinators, Deer resistant, Winter interest, Clay soil, Alkaline soil, Salt tolerant, Drought tolerant, Award winner

    Filters: Botanical genus: Cornus, Common name: Dogwood - Red Twig, Retail program: Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, USDA Zone 2, USDA Zone 3, USDA Zone 4, USDA Zone 5, USDA Zone 6, USDA Zone 7, Exposure: Full sun, Exposure: Part sun, Bloom time: Spring, White flowers, Green foliage

    Features: Cut flower, Native, Attracts pollinators, Deer resistant, Winter interest, Clay soil, Alkaline soil, Salt tolerant, Drought tolerant, Award winner

    Filters: Botanical genus: Cornus, Common name: Dogwood - Red Twig, Retail program: Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, USDA Zone 2, USDA Zone 3, USDA Zone 4, USDA Zone 5, USDA Zone 6, USDA Zone 7, Exposure: Full sun, Exposure: Part sun, Bloom time: Spring, White flowers, Green foliage