The white flowering dogwood botanically known as Cornus florida is our state’s official flower, but there are other dogwoods in North Carolina’s forests, and one, in particular, is showing off right now. No, it doesn’t bloom in January, but it can add colorful razzle-dazzle to the garden in the dead of winter.
It’s called the redtwig or red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), and it is more of a shrub than a small tree like the typical dogwood. Also, while Cornus florida sports large flowers, the redtwig has clusters of small, star-like blooms in the spring, while in the winter, its bare branches light up the landscape with muted red hues that come alive in the cold.
Such winter beauty didn’t go unnoticed by professional nurserymen, as this pretty native has been introduced into the trade as a quality landscape plant. Many cultivars have even been developed and include the compact “Isanti,” variegated-leaf “Sunshine,” and “Bailey,” which also has eye-catching, deep red foliage in the fall.
And just to make things confusing, there are yellow-twig cultivars of the redtwig dogwood. “Flaviramea” has been a standard for years, but “Bud’s Yellow” has shown better disease resistance. Also, consider the bright yellow stems of “Silver and Gold,” which are nicely complemented by variegated leaves during the warmer months.
The Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba), a native of China, also shows off sizzling red branches in the winter. But a real showstopper is the bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), a European import that zaps the dull winter landscape with streaks of electric red, orange, and yellow. “Winter Flame,” also called “Midwinter Fire,” is an outstanding cultivar.
All of these twiggy winter beauties will have brighter glows if planted in full sun. Also, because mature branches tend to dull over time, it is best to prune out older limbs about every three years.
To Do in January
In North Carolina, spring brings the scent of fresh-cut grass and memories of helping Dad mow the lawn.
Nostalgic burger joints are like time machines, delivering something extra special that keeps us coming back.
This tiny city block in downtown Greensboro once had a gigantic reputation. Not so much for its charbroiled beef patties — though they, too, were plentiful — but for its colorful characters and their wild shenanigans.
In the 1950s, as Americans hit freshly paved roads in shiny new cars during the postwar boom, a new kind of restaurant took shape: the drive-in. From those first thin patties to the elaborate gourmet hamburgers of today, North Carolina has spent the past 80 years making burger history.
