Cornus sericea ‘Hedgerows Gold’

variegated red-twig dogwood

  • © David Mason

  • © Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks

Outstanding Qualities

Cornus sericea ‘Hedgerows Gold’ is an outstanding selection of the redtwig dogwood with bright golden-yellow variegated foliage on deep red stems. It has attractive leaves with irregular gold margins that surround an emerald green center. In spring, tiny white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters followed by white fruit in the late summer and early fall. The fruit is quite attractive to birds. This shrub gives a great deal for the little it asks in the way of care and attention. It tolerates damp or dry soils, as well as that difficult combination of winter-wet-summer-dry locations.

Quick Facts

Plant Type: shrub

Foliage Type: deciduous

Plant Height (10-year): 10 ft. 0 in. (3.05 meters)

Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 10 ft. 0 in. (3.05 meters)

Plant Height-Mature: 12 ft. 0 in. (3.66 meters)

Plant Width-Mature: 12 ft. 0 in. (3.66 meters)

Hardiness: USDA Zones 3 to 8

Flower Color: white

Flowering Time: spring

Sun/Light Exposure: full sun or light to dappled shade

Water Requirements: regular watering in well drained soil, clay, or sandy soils

Seasonal Interest: red stems in winter, variegated foliage in spring & summer, autumn foliage color

Wildlife Associations: bees, butterflies

Culture Notes

This variegated redtwig dogwood is extremely adaptable, growing in a wide range of soil types from well-drained to wet locations and from clay to sand. It is vigorous in full sun or light to dappled shade, but a sunnier location will provide brighter stems in winter. To encourage bright red stems cut back a third of the oldest stems to about 6 inches tall every year, leaving the strong upright young whips.