Cornus aka Dogwood

Cornus is a diverse genus of woody plants in the Cornaceae family, commonly known as dogwoods. With approximately 30-60 species, these plants can be identified by their unique blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark. While most are deciduous trees or shrubs, some species display herbaceous perennial subshrub characteristics, and a few are evergreen. The flowers of certain species form inconspicuous heads surrounded by large, usually white petal-like bracts, while others have more open clusters of petal-bearing flowers. Native to temperate and boreal Eurasia and North America, particularly China, Japan, and the southeastern United States, dogwoods are abundant in these regions. Notable species include the Eurasian common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), the well-cultivated flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) found in eastern North America, the Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) in western North America, the eastern Asian Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), and two low-growing boreal species, the Canadian and Eurasian dwarf cornels (or bunchberries), known as Cornus canadensis and Cornus suecica, respectively. The dogwoods can be divided into one to nine genera or subgenera depending on botanical interpretation, but a broad and inclusive genus Cornus is commonly accepted. One such species is the Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood, a small, slow-growing tree with mid-green, semi-evergreen leaves that exhibit red, purple, or orange autumn tints. This shrub, which can thrive in partially or fully sunny conditions, is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 2 to 7. This versatile plant can be utilized as a short hedge, a specimen plant, in perennial gardens, or as a container plant. Its bright red stems provide a vibrant display during the winter months, adding color to otherwise dreary days.