Dogwood - Red (Cornus alba)

Our range of Red Dogwood (Cornus alba) bare root plants

We have Cornus alba bare root hedging plants in several specifications and heights.  The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were planted from seed in the spring and are sold during the following November to April months when they are dormant ie they are 1 year old.

We also have Cornus alba transplants (1+1) which began as a one year old whip (grown from seed in one growing season) and are then planted back out for one more growing season in a different area of our fields at lower density to give each plant more space, nutrients and water.

You can read more about the specifications we offer on the tab just below the pricing table to the right of this product description.

Red Dogwood (Cornus alba) Summary

Nothing much of a plant until winter when it’s red stems brighten the bare brown hedging.  Its leaves feed caterpillars of some moths, the pungent creamy white flowers are insect friendly, and the blue berries are popular with robins and other birds.  Dogwood is not suitable for hedge laying.  Normally Cornus sanguinea would be used in farm hedging (because it is native) and Cornus alba or Cornus alba Sibirica would be used in landscaping schemes.

Soil and Situation

Normal or moist soils in sun or partial shade.  Not too fussy.  Rarely found in Scotland, the very far west of Wales and the tip of Cornwall.

Leaves, flowers and fruit

The leaves are oval, about 6cm long, with curved veins and smooth edges and a good red autumn colour. 

The flowers are white sprays, quite unpleasant smelling to our noses but attractive to a range of insects and the berries are blue and apparently “not even fit for a dog” but they are popular particularly with robins.

Eventual height and growth rate

The eventual height is about 2.5 - 3m and the growth rate is above average – about 40-60cm pa.  If you trim dogwood stems to about 15cm from the ground, new growth will be rapid and brighter red.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)