Deciduous shrub (Cornus)
Red Twig Dogwood
In season
A tough, hardy shrub grown for its fiery red winter stems — four seasons of interest in any yard.
- Sunlight: full sun
- Water: moderate
- Season: Year-round interest; brilliant red winter stems
- Price: $25–$50
Red twig dogwood is the shrub that earns its keep in winter, when its bare stems glow a brilliant red against the snow — a welcome bit of color in a Montana January. The rest of the year it's a dependable, fast-growing green shrub with white spring flower clusters and white berries the birds enjoy. It's hardy to Zone 3, takes wet spots and tough sites in stride, and is about as low-maintenance as shrubs come. The trick to the best color: cut a third of the oldest stems to the ground each late winter, since the youngest stems are the reddest.