Red twig dogwoods are a refreshing sight here in Utah, especially during winter. Native to North America and Asia, these shrubs are easily identifiable by their vibrant, red-colored stems that stand out against the stark white of the snow.
'Cardinal' Red Twig Dogwood, shown here and at the top of this article is a fast-growing shrub with a loose, rounded, spreading habit. It's one of our favorites here at the nursery because of its impressive cold hardiness. It stands out better than most dogwoods because of its bright stems that are darker red near the base turning to orange-red as it goes up.
Red twig dogwoods thrive in a variety of conditions, but they especially enjoy Utah’s cold, dry winters. They typically grow to be around six feet tall and wide, but you can find cultivars that grow larger or smaller.
Red twig dogwoods provide year-round interest. Their branches are covered with delicate white flowers in the spring. Leaf color ranges from dark green to golden yellow—most turning a stunning shade of red (sometimes yellow) in fall. In winter, red twig dogwoods can have a captivating impact in your landscape as their red branches contrast beautifully against the snow.
Red twig dogwoods are not only beautiful, but they're also incredibly beneficial for the environment. These shrubs help to remove toxins from the air and provide shelter and food for wildlife, such as birds, rabbits, and squirrels. If you’re looking to attract more wildlife to your property, dogwoods are an excellent choice.
Kelseyi red twig dogwoods have stunning red stems in winter and they stay compact in your landscape only reaching 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
When it comes to caring for red twig dogwoods, there are a few things to keep in mind. You can plant them any time of year, but they actually prefer to be planted during the colder months. They love full sun, well-drained soil, and moist roots. Mulch heavily around the base of the plants to help retain moisture. Prep them for winter by watering deeply before the ground freezes. Dogwoods are very cold hardy, tolerating hardiness zones as low as 4, 3, or even 2, depending on the cultivar. That means they can usually handle temperatures that are far below freezing. If you live in an area that gets extremely cold, it may help to mulch heavily before the snow flies, but typically you can simply leave them alone and marvel at their strength.
As you can tell, we have loads of amazing dogwood shrubs available here at Progressive Plants. This is only one section of Ivory Halo Dogwoods that we grew last year. Ivory Halo dogwoods reach roughly 6 feet tall and wide, have striking variegated leaves, and deep red stems during winter.
There are several amazing dogwood shrubs that make wonderful additions to your landscape. Not all of them have red stems. Some stay bright green all year round and others are yellow stemmed. Regardless of the cultivar, you'll find that each of them has its own unique way of impressing you throughout the year.
Check out all of our dogwoods here!
