Description
Cornus alba Sgt. Pepper is a cold hardy dogwood shrub bred for its brilliant multi-season displays. In summer the foliage is green with variegated white edges but these are beautifully hot pink when leaves are young in the spring. In fall the foliage turns burgundy red with hot pink margins. The stems also turn a lovely deep red in fall and winter with the youngest stems displaying the best colour. To encourage bright red young stems cut shrubs down to the ground every few years or cut out one third of the oldest stems each spring just before the foliage begins to emerge. Clusters of tiny white flowers appear in spring on old wood. Expect an upright growth habit 4-6 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Easy to grow and adaptable. Use as an anchor, foundation, specimen, mass planting or focal point. Pollinator attractor. Deer resistant. Cultivar name ‘Verppaalen2’
