Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ (20/02/2011, London)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist but well drained

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 4m

Hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Cornaceae

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ is a deciduous, suckering shrub with an upright habit and a vigorous growth rate. It has upright stems, with the new shoots being yellow/ green in winter. The foliage is dark green and ovoid to elliptic in shape and will turn an orange/red in autumn. The white flowers are borne in flat cymes in late spring and early summer. The fruit that follows are white often tinged with blue.

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’, commonly known as Green-Barked Dogwood or Golden-Twig Dogwood, is native to North America. Cornus stolonifera is synonymous with Cornus sericea.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cornus is derived from the Latin cornus ‘horn’, due to its dense properties and was originally the old name for the species Cornus mas. Stolonifera is from the Latin meaning bearing runners and sericea is from the Latin meaning silky. With Flaviramea being derived from Latin ‘flavus’ meaning yellow.

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ is useful to the landscape architect for its vivid bright yellow/green shoots in winter. Only the new wood is this yellow/green colour so for full effect the plant should be stooled to near ground level each year.

Ecologically, Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ berries are eaten by some mammals and many birds. The leaves provide food for some moths and caterpillars.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ is most effective when stooled. This should be carried in March and cut back to 5-10cm above soil level, this will ensure its yellow/ green stem colour is maintained for the following winter This should be carried out in spring before the leaf breaks after a winter of enjoying this plants stems.