Dogwood Blue Cloud

Grown for its coloured winter stems and lovely autumn colour, Cornus amomum Blue Cloud is a large, vigorous, deciduous shrub with an upright but spreading, habit, particularly good in wilder parts of the larger garden. The stems are reddish-purple, and the ovate, deep green leaves turn orange, red and purple in autumn. In spring, arching sprays, 2 /6cm across, of white flowers appear, followed by metallic-blue berries in autumn. Prune dogwood Blue Cloud immediately after flowering, by taking out ? of the stems to the base; this will give better coloured winter stems and keep the shrub within bounds. A tough, hardy, easy-to-grow shrub.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Well-drained soil, acid to neutral preferred
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: All year, spring, autumn and winter in particular
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 10 (3m) Spread: 13 (4m) if unpruned