#redstems

Plant of the Day

Friday 10 March 2023

Just bursting into leaf is the Cornus alba 'Sibirica' (Siberian dogwood) which has provided great stem colour all winter. This deciduous shrub will soon be pruned to ensure the regrowth of new red stems for next winter.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 4 April 2023

The stems of Rubus phoenicolasius (Japanese wineberry) show up well in winter, especially when sunlight strikes them. Here the stems are trained against a grey fence ready to flower and crop in the coming year. The fruit can be eaten straight off the canes or cook in the same way as raspberries.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 23 January 2022

Here the coloured stems of Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' (coral bark willow, scarlet willow) have become a winter sculpture. These vigorous medium-sized deciduous tree are here being grown as a shrub which is being ‘stooled’ (coppiced) on top of a short stem known as a ‘leg’. Pruning will be carried out in early spring before bud burst removing last years stems to encourage regrowth with the colourful red bark.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 25 December 2021

Festive Greetings!

This winter container is edged with the yellow leaved, compact semi-evergreen or evergreen perennial Acorus gramineus 'Ōgon' (slender sweet flag) and the central feature is cut stems of Salix × sepulcralis 'Erythroflexuosa' (contorted willow, twisted willow). This small tree or large shrub has twisted orange-yellow branches especially of the young shoots.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 19 November 2020

The deciduous shrub Cornus alba 'Sibirica' (Siberian dogwood) is normally recommended for a winter garden with the display of red stems from the younger growth but the autumn colour is spectacular.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 6 March 2019

The Winter Garden of Cambridge Botanic Gardens, UK, celebrates its 40th anniversary and it looks stunning. Complementing and contrasting with the red stemmed Cornus (dogwood) were the pale green flowers of Fritillaria raddeana. This imbricated bulb is hardy and thrives in a loam or clay soil with good drainage.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 23 January 2019

The suckering, deciduous shrub Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' (red osier dogwood, red twig dogwood) forms thickets of yellow-orange stems with red tips, which produce the strongest colours in the winter. Here the stems contrast with the Miscanthus in the background and the Helleborus used as groundcover.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 16 September 2017

The glowing stems of Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Flavescens Group (ruby chard) need to grow in an open sunny site in rich, moisture-retentive free-draining soil. Chard can tolerate some shade in summer.