Variegated dogwood: proper planting and required care. Elegance itself. What varieties of turf exist and how to grow it Turf plant

Many people want to see their garden not only well-groomed, but also attractive, but sometimes there is simply not enough time for this. And the weather conditions are often not kind. But, fortunately, nature is so diverse that you can always choose suitable plants. For example, white derain is an unpretentious shrub, which, moreover, does not lose its decorative effect at any time of the year. Well, why not a solution for a summer cottage?

Derain (Cornus), or svidina, is a genus of decorative deciduous shrubs of the dogwood family; it unites several dozen species (both deciduous and evergreen), most of which grow in temperate latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.
This genus of shrubs is distinguished by its absolute undemanding conditions and excellent frost resistance. And in addition, they are very decorative, all year round. In spring and summer, derain pleases us with its beautiful foliage (especially variegated varieties) and cute flowers. In autumn, the foliage becomes especially bright and amazing fruits ripen in white, black, blue or reddish shades. In winter, it will also not get lost in the garden, because the bark of its shoots can have rich green, yellow, red and coral colors.

Derain is a shrub with strong and hard wood, which is how it got its name (translated from Latin as “horn”).

Several species of this plant are used in ornamental gardening.

Shrubs have a special place in landscape design - they maintain a balance between woody and herbaceous...

Derain white

The most common in our region is white dogwood (Cornus alba). It is a deciduous shrub growing up to three meters. Its upward-pointing straight branches have a reddish color of various shades. Young shoots often have a slight bluish coating. The green leaves are oval-shaped, pointed upward, slightly wrinkled. May have a whitish edge. The length of the leaf plate is about ten centimeters. It blooms twice a year: the first time in early summer, and the second in the first half of autumn. Small white or slightly pink flowers are united in a corymb inflorescence. At the end of summer, inedible round fruits, drupes, blue-white or yellowish in color, ripen.

White dogwood is represented in ornamental gardening in many varieties. Let's pay attention to just a few of them.

• Shpeta (Spaethii)- a very common species, has a golden-yellow border along the edge of the leaf in combination with the same spots and stripes. In autumn the foliage turns purple. The shoots are red-brown. Doesn't bloom.

White dogwood “Shpeta”

• Aurea, or Golden, - with yellow and yellow-green foliage and red shoots. Winter hardiness is average.
• Elegantissima- the most frost-resistant, distinguished by a bright and wide white border, as well as red branches.

White Derain "Elegantissima"

1. • Gauchaultii- low (up to 1.5 m), has edged leaves with pink and yellowish-white spots.

1. • Siberian or Sibirica- the height of the bush is one and a half meters, it has a very beautiful red tint of the branches. The leaves are green, turning yellow and red in autumn.
   • Sibirica Variegata- variegated form (up to 2 m), foliage with a white border and spots; in autumn the green part of the leaf becomes brownish-purple. The shoots are bright red.

White dogwood "Sibirika variegata"

1. • Argenteo-marginata- the leaves are distinguished by a grayish-white, as if silvery, border, and the shoots are dark burgundy in color.

White Derain "Kesselring"

• Kesselring (Kesselringii)- an unusually beautiful chameleon bush. The leaves are purple-brown when they bloom, then turn greenish-brown and turn bronze in autumn. The fruits are white and the shoots are black and red.
• Cream Cracker- this is one of the new varieties, low (about 1 m), with red shoots, the leaves have a yellowish border, which gradually becomes creamy.

There are many other varieties of white turf, all of which are distinguished by good frost resistance. Representatives of this species bloom after two years of life.

Red derain, or blood-red svidina

Another species is red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea). Slightly less common in gardens than white derain. Flexible green shoots acquire a red tint over time. The pointed, ovate leaves are covered with villi. Dark green in summer, they glow in all shades of red in autumn. Thanks to the autumn color of the leaves, the species got its name. Blooms in the seventh year at the end of spring. Small white flowers are collected in inflorescences-corymbs. Sometimes re-blooming occurs. In August, black round inedible fruits ripen.

Red dogwood is also an unpretentious species, quite frost-resistant, but in very severe winters it can freeze a little.

It has decorative forms and varieties:

• Compressa (Cornus sanguinea Compressa)- a very interesting shrub with compressed rounded leaves. The foliage is dark green in summer, turning red in autumn. The crown is dense, vertical, about 1 m high. The bark on the branches is reddish-brown. Doesn't bloom.

Red Derain "Compress"

• Winter Beauty (Cornus sanguinea Winter Beauty)- the owner of a round, spreading bush (about 2 m). The shoots are orange-yellow. The leaves are oval, pointed upward. Dark green in summer and red in autumn.

Red Derain "Winter Beauty"

• Midwinter Fire (Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire)- a spreading shrub up to one and a half meters, shoots are bright red-orange. The leaves are rich green in summer, changing color from yellow-orange to dark red in autumn.
• Variegata (Cornus sanguinea Variegata)- a variety with variegated leaves, they have yellow-white spots and a border on a green background, then the leaves turn red. Young shoots are green, but gradually acquire a burgundy hue.

Let us also note some more decorative forms:

• Atro-sanguinea- with deep purple branches.
• Viridissima- distinguished by bright green fruits and shoots.
• Mietschii- young twigs and leaves of an unusual light yellow color.

The varieties of blood-red sow we considered, like the white sod, are frost-resistant.

Derain kouza, or Japanese dogwood

This species, unlike such as white dogwood and blood-red dogwood, is a tall, beautifully flowering shrub, or even a tree, and can reach a height of 9 m. The homeland of cornus kousa is Japan (also found in the wild of China and Korea).

The crown is wide-spreading, old branches descend strictly horizontally and form tiers. The leaves are oval, pointed at the top. The foliage is dark green in summer (with a bluish tint below), and with the onset of autumn their palette diverges from golden yellow to dark crimson. Flowering begins in June. The flower is a simple yellow-green head, collected from small flowers, around which are located bracts-involucre leaves (bractea). It is the bractae (up to 9 cm) that make the flowers beautiful, as they have an interesting shape and color. At the end of August, the drupes ripen. They are pink in color and slightly round in shape, similar to strawberries (about 2 cm). The fruits are edible.

Decorative varieties:

• • Satomi has pink-red bracts;

Derain kouza "Satomi"

• • Gold Star distinguished by a yellow pattern in the middle of the sheet;

Deren kouza "Gold Star"

• • Milky Way has high productivity and creamy bracts;

Derain kouza “Milky Way”

• Schmetterling profusely flowering variety with white bracts.

This species is considered an “aristocrat” and the most beautiful among its fellows. But, unfortunately, it is less resistant to our winters.

Blooming derain

This species came to us from North America and is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown. Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is famous for its abundant flowering, which occurs even before the leaves appear. The flowers are inconspicuous, small, collected in a small head. Their beauty lies in the large bracts, which come in different shades. It is these modified leaves in the spring that turn the flowers into large stars and attract the attention of others.

In the summer, the leaves of this type of tree are simply green, but in the fall, like its fellows, it does not give up its position and colors the foliage in bright yellow, orange and red tones.

This species also has decorative varieties, differing mainly in the color of the bracts.

• • Rubra- The most popular of these, the bracts can be colored from light pink to deep red.

Flowering dogwood "Rubra"

• • Cherokee Princess- has snow-white bracts.
  • Cherokee Chief- captivates with dark pink bractae.

Flowering dogwood "Cherokee Chief"

Although this species can withstand frosts of more than 20 degrees, it is not as winter-hardy as white dogwood and can freeze slightly.

Male dogwood, or common dogwood

Male dogwood (Cornus mas) is well known to all of us under the name “dogwood”. It is widespread in Russia (European part), Ukraine, Moldova, the Caucasus, Western Europe and even the Middle East. In natural conditions it can grow up to 9 meters and live up to 250 years.

Male dogwood, or common dogwood

For most of us, this shrub is associated with red, sweet and sour, slightly pear-shaped drupes. And also with the most delicious jam made from them. However, dogwood is also used as an ornamental plant.

Its shoots are ribbed grayish-brown (young ones are yellow-green). The leaves are oval, pointed upward, covered with small hairs, rich green in color. It blooms in spring, even before the leaves appear, with yellow flowers collected in numerous umbrella inflorescences. The fruits ripen by the end of August. They are not only tasty, but also have medicinal properties.

Male dogwood, or dogwood (fruit)

It is quite winter-hardy, and with partial freezing it grows quickly.

There are many dogwood varieties that are aimed at increasing productivity and fruit quality. However, there are also decorative varieties. For example, Aurea distinguished by yellow leaves, Elegantissima is a variegated variety with a wide yellow border, and Variegata- with white.

In addition to the above species, you can also name the dwarf creeping Canadian dogwood (Cornus canadensis), but it is not frost-resistant, as well as the shoot or silky dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), which is very similar to the white dogwood, only it produces abundant growth.

Barberry is a fairly common shrub. Its widespread use in landscape design is due to the presence…

Planting derain

So, you have decided to plant turf on your property. It is better to do this in early spring. Although the species we have considered are very unpretentious, you should pay attention to some features.

Let's start choosing a location. Do not forget that these are quite tall shrubs, so consider the distance between the plants themselves, as well as to the walls of buildings and other garden objects. They are not particularly demanding of lighting, but in direct sunlight in the hot summer they can get burned. Therefore, the ideal place for them would be partial shade. Sunny locations are suitable for variegated varieties.

The soil is preferably neutral or slightly acidic, and always loose. Sand should be added to heavy clay soil.

We prepare a small hole (30-50 cm), since the roots of the derains are superficial. We arrange drainage. These plants like slightly moist soil and can tolerate slight drought, but stagnant water is harmful to them. There is no need to apply fertilizer; it is enough to prepare a nutritious soil mixture by adding humus and compost. After planting, water thoroughly and be sure to mulch the root circle.

Reproduction of derain

As a shrub, deren can be propagated by cuttings and layering, as well as by seeds. However, please note that some ornamental varieties do not bear fruit, which precludes seed propagation. And dogwood cuttings do not take root well.

When the shrub begins to bear fruit fully, having collected the berries in the fall, they can be immediately planted shallow in the ground, choosing a well-lit area. Sprinkle a thin layer of sand on top and cover with fallen leaves. In the spring, when the seeds germinate, we select the strongest specimens and leave them to grow for another 2 years. And only then should they be transplanted to the place you have chosen.

You can carry out and plant them in the spring. But it should be noted that propagation by seeds is a very long process.

When the young shoots have already become slightly woody and flexible, cuttings up to 10 cm are cut from them, dug into moist soil to a depth of approximately 3 cm and covered (you can use five-liter PET bottles). It is important to constantly monitor soil moisture; it should not dry out. It is better to plant cuttings in partial shade. In two months they will take root. They should definitely be covered for the winter, and with the onset of spring they can be transplanted to the chosen location.

The simplest propagation of dena is done by layering and suckers. To make a layering, you should bend the lower branch to the ground and dig it in (slightly injuring the bark at the place of digging). It is advisable to secure the cuttings in the ground with something. You can use a wire staple or just a not very heavy stone. And if your tree variety produces offspring, then you just need to carefully separate them and replant the young plant.

Features of care

As has been noted more than once, derain is a very undemanding plant. But he also needs minimal care.

Watering

Given the superficial location of the root system, the soil under the bush should be constantly moist, but it is not recommended to over-water the turf. Constant mulching is advisable. In tree-like forms, ground cover perennials can be planted around the trunk; they will help retain moisture.

Loosening

Aeration is important for this plant, so regular loosening is recommended. It is important to loosen the soil shallowly so as not to damage the surface roots of the shrub.

Top dressing

Derain feels fine even without fertilizers, but spring comprehensive feeding of an adult plant will not be superfluous. It is important not to alkalize the soil.

Wintering

The types of derain we have considered are relatively winter-hardy. The question of shelter for the winter should be considered in relation to your climatic conditions. First-year seedlings require mandatory shelter. The most winter-hardy species is white derain.

Trimming

Derain tolerates pruning well; it should be done depending on the type of use of the plant.
In old branches, the bright color disappears over time. If you want to see your bush beautiful in winter, then in early spring (before the leaves appear) the bush is pruned radically, leaving only 20 cm of height. This will renew the bush and give rise to many young bright shoots. This pruning is done every few years. Or you can simply cut out the old branches in the spring, leaving young growth.

To maintain beautiful foliage, sanitary and shaping pruning is required, since without this, the lower branches of the bush will become bare over time.

And the hedge should be trimmed after the young shoots slow down their active growth (in the second half of summer).

They begin to trim the tree in the fourth year of life.

Diseases and pests

Diseases most often affect turf due to errors in care, for example, severe waterlogging leads to rotting of the roots, as well as the development of fungal diseases. Here you can recommend reducing watering and using colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux mixture. A turf growing in good conditions is rarely attacked by pests. Most often they move from neighboring affected plants. Here it is necessary to use insecticides.

Derain in landscape design

The classic use of derain bushes is as hedges. In this role it is ideal: frost-resistant, unpretentious and loyal to pruning. Especially white turf.

Derain's low requirements for lighting make it an excellent solution for shady areas of the garden.

Derain is plastic and cuts well, so it can be easily given a suitable shape; this is an indispensable quality when creating topiary. Also molded bushes make excellent tapeworms. They are very original in the form of balls, hemispheres, pyramids, arches, and also as standard forms.

They go well with other plants: conifers and perennials. Can be used as a background for summer flowering plants. And variegated turf will perfectly decorate monochrome compositions.

Kousa and flowering dogwoods are especially beautiful among coniferous plants. Around their trunk, ground cover perennials will look original.

And the most unpretentious white turf will perfectly stabilize the slopes with its superficial and highly branched roots.

Derain can safely be called the king of landscapes. It is beautiful in the spring with its flowers, decorative in the summer with its foliage, in the fall it evokes admiration for the bright colors of the leaves and interspersed with contrasting fruits, and in the winter we are captivated by red and yellow vines on the dazzling white snow.

White dogwood or svidina is a unique ornamental garden plant that will decorate your site in any season. In the summer it will delight you with its magnificent flowering, which over time turns into stunningly beautiful white-blue berries, in the fall - with charming foliage in purple shades, even in winter its red branches look very impressive against the background of white snow. It is often used to create hedges. Look at the photo to see how successfully white turf can be used in landscape design.

Today we will talk about the features of caring for white dogwood, its propagation, and talk about existing varieties and varieties. This knowledge will be enough for you to grow such an amazing plant on your own site.

White dogwood: varieties and varieties

The plant has durable wood. Depending on the species, the turf can be a shrub or a tree. It is characterized by opposite dark green leaves and beautiful white flowers collected in inflorescences. Its height can reach 3 m, and the bushes sometimes grow up to 5 m in width. In addition, svidina blooms twice per season: in early summer and early autumn. You can admire the beauty of this delightful plant in the photo.

Derain is a beautiful shrub that attracts not only with its flowering, but also with its interesting leaves.

There are three main types of wood:

• white;
• blood red;
• proliferous.

The variety of their varieties is very large. The most famous varieties White tree trees stand out:

• Atrosanguinea (has green leaves and crimson shoots, reaches about 1.5 m in height);

Atrosanguinea variety

• Argenteo-marginata (it is characterized by red-burgundy shoots, leaves with a wide white border and spots);
• Alleman’s Compact (characterized by bright green foliage and red young shoots);
• Aurea Elegantissima (can reach up to 2 m in height, with yellow-pinnate leaves);

Variety Aurea Elegantissima

• Blood good (quite a tall variety, its representatives reach 2-3 m in height, this is the brightest of the red-coral varieties);
• Budd’s Yellow (variety with green leaves and olive-yellow tint of shoots);
• Gouchaultii (shoots have a blood-red hue, leaves are slightly drooping, with characteristic red, white and pink spots);

Variety Gauchaultii

• Ivory Halo (has red shoots, a spherical crown, and foliage with a green center and white border);
• Sibirica Ruby (this variety reaches 1.5 m in height, its shoots have a coral-red color and rounded leaves, which are dark green in summer, bright green in spring, and purple-red in autumn);
• Sibirica Variegata (coral shade of shoots and leaves with a white border);

Variety Sibirica Variegata

• Spaethii (this variety is characterized by foliage with a wide golden border).

Features of planting white dera

There is probably no more unpretentious and beautiful plant than white dogwood. Planting and caring for it is quite simple and will not cause you any difficulties at all.

Derain grows well in shaded areas

Open areas or those located in partial shade are best suited for it. Svidina prefers moist soils rich in humus.

Attention! Provide the plant with a good drainage system so that the water does not stagnate.

Before planting, the seedling is immersed in water for a couple of hours. Don't forget to add compost and humus to the planting hole. The top layer of soil needs to be mulched. This procedure will protect the still young and fragile plant from harmful weeds and excessive drought in the summer.

How to provide the plant with proper care?

As mentioned earlier, svidina will delight you with its ease of care and its unpretentiousness. Mulch the soil around plants with organic materials. Do not forget about timely moderate watering during the dry period, loosening the soil, and weeding. An equally important point in caring for white dogwood is pruning.

Tree trimming before wintering

The nature of this procedure will depend on the climatic conditions of growth and on your personal preferences. If you want to see beautiful red shoots in the winter season, then prune them in early spring. In this case, you should cut off the branches close to the ground. Over the summer the shoots will have time to grow. Such pruning of the tree will make it more lush, but will reduce the abundance of flowering and the number of berries on the plant.

If you prefer its flowering and growth in height, then carry out formative pruning in the fall. Simply shorten the branches to the desired height. Such pruning will contribute to a neat appearance and the creation of a harmonious shape.

Advice. To renew old, overgrown plants, every few years it is necessary to prune to the very root.

Reproduction, feeding and fertilizing of plants

Svidina accepts two methods of reproduction:

• seeds;
• cuttings.

White deer seeds will not ripen at the same time, so collect them one at a time. They remain viable for up to 5 years.

White derain berries

Before boarding seeds plants must undergo several months of stratification. A mixture of moss, peat, sand and sawdust is layered with seeds and stored at a temperature of up to 5 degrees Celsius.

Sowing seeds in open ground is done in late autumn or early spring. For each square meter of area it is necessary to sow 10-15 g of seeds. The planting depth should be about 5 cm. The bushes will grow to their usual size only after 5-8 years. When propagated by seed, the turf will germinate only in 2-3 years.

Rooted cuttings of dogwood

Reproduction method cuttings will be more productive and faster. To do this, you need to cut green, slightly woody cuttings from a large bush. They are planted in June. Before the onset of autumn, they have time to develop their root system. In winter, young shoots are insulated or transferred to the basement, and in the spring they are planted in a permanent place. The process of planting a plant in the ground, when propagated in this way, you can see in the next photo.

Feeding the white tree is not necessary, but it will affect its healthier, more beautiful and flowering appearance. It doesn’t hurt to apply mineral fertilizer once a year in the spring, and organic fertilizer in the summer.

Dangerous diseases and pests

Mature, strong plants are rarely exposed to various diseases, which cannot be said about young shrubs. They may be attacked by powdery mildew (fungal infection). This infection appears on the leaves in the form of a white coating, drops of liquid and, most often, occurs in early spring. As a result, the turf stops blooming, and its foliage becomes pale and dry.

Comma-shaped scale

To avoid powdery mildew, the plant must be watered at the root, and the root system must be thinned in spring and autumn. In already infected bushes, diseased branches are removed and sprayed with special solutions.

The most dangerous pests are the comma scale insect (damages leaves) and aphids.

Decorative shrub for the garden - derain: video

Types of derain: photo

Variegated dogwood is an ornamental plant that is quickly gaining popularity among gardeners. It is extremely unpretentious, yet looks very impressive. Culture is widely used in landscape design. In fact, here the gardener is limited only by his own imagination. The plant looks attractive at any time of the year, even when it loses its leaves in winter. The frost resistance of the crop allows it to be planted in most of Russia, including in regions with a harsh continental climate, and planting and care do not take much time.

Description of variegated dogwood

This plant is the achievement of breeders. Such a plant does not exist in nature. It was bred on the basis of white Dorain from the Dogwood family. This plant has monochromatic green leaves. Breeders have added colors - now they have an uneven border of white, cream, yellow, lime, and golden shades. The leaves are heart-shaped, with a smooth edge and a clearly defined central vein.

White dogwood served as the basis for a very successful experiment by breeders

The name comes from the Greek "horn". This is due to the fact that the wood is very strong and heavy. The homeland of the “original” is northern China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. The plant is also found in the Far East. The optimal temperature for its growth and development is 17–20°C.

Variegated dogwood is characterized by a high growth rate; young bushes turn into a dense hedge in just a few years

This is a small tree or shrub reaching 2.5–3 m in height. The crown diameter is 4–5 m. The bark is painted in an unusually bright coral or brick color and shines glossy in the sun. Therefore, the plant does not lose its attractiveness, even if it loses its foliage. Its branches look very impressive in winter against the backdrop of white snowdrifts.

Variegated dogwood is an ornamental shrub that is quickly gaining popularity among gardeners.

The crop blooms and bears fruit twice per season. The buds open for the first time in May or June, the berries appear after about a month and a half. The second wave of flowering is the second half of August or September. The berries then look very beautiful against the background of red-orange and purple foliage. The flowers are snow-white, collected in corymbose inflorescences 4–5 cm in diameter, the fruits are bluish-white or greenish, inedible.

Variegated turf blooms profusely, this happens twice during the growing season

Video: what variegated turf looks like

Variegated dogwood is distinguished by its growth rate and tolerates pruning, even radical pruning, without much damage. The more often the procedure is carried out, the denser the bush becomes. This feature makes it suitable for forming hedges. Pruning for a plant is a strictly mandatory procedure. A bush growing uncontrollably in different directions looks very untidy.

The berries of variegated dogwood in autumn look very impressive against the background of leaves painted in all shades of red.

The culture's low maintenance requirements are simply amazing. Variegated dogwood adapts to almost any climatic conditions and is undemanding to soil quality and lighting. Frost resistance allows it to be planted almost throughout Russia, including the Urals and Siberia, where harsh winters are by no means uncommon. The shrub tolerates frosts down to -40°C without problems.

The unusual coloring of the bark only adds to the showiness of the variegated turf

Duren is widely used in landscape design. The plant's unpretentiousness allows it to be planted in city parks, where environmental conditions are usually far from ideal. Amateur gardeners also appreciate it. The variegated dogwood bush can be placed almost anywhere in the garden plot, even where other ornamental crops simply do not survive.

A hedge made from variegated dogwood is quite dense and can be used to protect other plantings from the wind.

The simplest use that can be found for turf is to form a hedge, flat or stepped. But there are other options for using it. In fact, here the gardener is limited only by his own imagination. Varieties with green-white leaves well “dilute” plantings of a rich dark green color, for example, coniferous trees, adding a refreshing note to the composition, as if “a ray of light.”

Sprawling, dense shrubs cover well unsightly walls, fences, and other structures.

Variegated dogwood looks good both in single plantings and in compositions

You can plant turf in front of larger trees with a highly raised crown and a “bare” trunk. This is the so-called underpad. The entire composition visually “deepens”, becomes more voluminous, and looks more harmonious. Dogwood is also good in single plantings, but in combination with other plants it looks even more impressive. If you add roses, juniper, barberry, and viburnum Buldenezh to it, you will get a very bright composition that is invariably pleasing to the eye.

In winter, variegated turf looks no less attractive than in summer.

The plant is not only decorative, but also useful. Variegated dogwood has a powerful root system. It is planted in areas characterized by soil erosion and landslides. The wind-swept area can be surrounded by a “green ring”. The density of the variegated dogwood bushes will protect the plantings located inside from cold drafts.

In autumn, the foliage of the variegated dogwood turns different shades of scarlet and purple.

Video: place of plants in landscape design

The most common varieties with photos

It cannot be said that there are a lot of varieties of variegated dogwood, but among those available, every gardener will certainly find a variety to his liking. All of them are easy to care for and very effective.

• Elegantissima. One of the most common varieties in garden plots. Well suited for single plantings. The height of the bush is 2.5 m. The shoots are straight, bright, coral in color. The leaves have a pointed tip and are slightly concave along the central vein. The main color is green with a bluish tint, the border is white or pale light green, quite narrow. The flowers are white or pastel pink.
• Sibirica Variegata. The height of a very dense bush is 1.2–1.5 m. Bright, almost blood-scarlet branches. The leaves are flat, elongated, salad green. The edging is snow-white. In autumn they change color to a rich purple with a violet tint. The flowers are greenish-cream. The berries are blue-blue, covered with a thick layer of “waxy” coating.
• Gouchaultii. A very “massive”, squat bush. Its height is only 1.5 m. The shoots are dark scarlet, long, flexible, drooping. The leaves have a wide, uneven border of lemon-yellow color. If the plant is planted in open, sunny areas, it begins to turn pinkish. The flowers are straw-yellow, the fruits are bluish.
• Cream Cracker. A very graceful shrub with a crown directed upward. You can form a standard tree from it without much effort. The border on the leaves is light beige or cream. In autumn it changes its shade to lime.
• Spaethii. Brought out more than a century ago. A variety of variegated dogwood with a bright golden-yellow border on the leaves. Sometimes it can cover most of the leaf blade. Those that are just blooming are orange-red. In autumn they turn different shades of purple, scarlet-lilac, almost violet. Plant height is up to 3 m, the crown is spreading and wide. The flowers are yellowish, the shade of butter. It tolerates heat, drought and frost very well. It stands out for its growth rate, adding 20 cm annually.
• Argenteomarginata. The height of the bush is about 3 m, the crown is spreading. Without pruning, shoots will droop slightly. The leaves are elongated, up to 10 cm long. The main tone is grayish-green with a silvery tint, the edge is creamy-white. Spots and stripes of the same color may be present. In autumn, the color of the leaves varies from golden lemon to brick red. The flowers are yellowish-white, the berries are the same shade, with a bluish tint. The variegated color is not lost in the shade, but disappears under the bright sun.
• Ivory Halo. One of the new selections. The height of the bush is up to 1.5 m. The crown, even without pruning, takes the shape of an almost regular ball. The leaves are light green, the border is ivory-colored, as if pearlescent. The bark on young shoots is bright red, then gradually changes color to brick.
• Kernii. Grows up to 2 m in height. Leaves with a border and lemon-yellow spots of different sizes. The bark on young shoots is colored in an unusual reddish-burgundy color.
• Westonbirt. The height of the bush is about 1.5 m. The bark on young shoots is coral-pink, then gradually darkens. The leaves are also pink.
• Behnschii. Grows up to 1.5–2 m in height. Young shoots are bright scarlet. The leaves are dotted with small white, cream and sometimes dull red spots. There is a narrow border along the edge.
• Aurea. A very impressive contrast of lemon-yellow foliage and bright red branches. The shrub is quite compact, up to 2 m in height, the crown is spherical.
• Aurea Elegantissima. The bush grows up to 2 m. Young leaves are brick-colored, then turn yellow. They are wider than other varieties, almost round, matte. In autumn they acquire a slight reddish tint, but the overall tone does not change. When grown in full sun, a beige-brown stripe may appear on the edge of the leaf. Compared to other varieties, it demonstrates less frost resistance.

Photo gallery: varieties popular with gardeners

Dorain Elegantissima is one of the most popular varieties of culture Turfgrass Sibirica Variegata - very dense, low shrub In direct sunlight, the leaves of the Gouchaultii dogwood take on a pinkish tint. Cream Cracker turf is suitable for forming a standard tree Turf Spaethii - a very spectacular plant variety Turfgrass Argenteomarginata may lose its characteristic color in the sun Dorain Ivory Halo - one of the latest achievements of breeders Duren Kernii stands out for its unusual bark shade Westonbirt grass is easily identified by the color of its leaves. The Behnschii dogwood has leaves with a rather narrow border Turfgrass Aurea is a suitable plant for those who lack autumn even in summer Aurea Elegantissima is slightly different from its “relatives” in leaf shape

Landing procedure and preparation for it

Unpretentiousness extends to the conditions for planting and caring for variegated dogwood. The plant tolerates substrate of almost any quality, including saline, acidified and alkaline. The only thing that is absolutely not suitable for it is groundwater located closer than one and a half meters from the soil surface. This can trigger the development of root rot. For the same reason, it is undesirable to plant turf in a clay, peat, or silty substrate, which easily sours. The ideal option for shrubs is fertile soil that allows water and air to pass through well.

Variegated dogwood will suit almost any place in the garden.

The plant feels good in the shade, in partial shade, and in bright sun. This does not affect his development. But over time, especially in the absence of proper care, the variegation of leaves can fade to monotony both under direct sunlight and when there is a lack of light.

The root system of variegated dogwood is quite powerful and developed. Therefore, it is advisable to place the shrub away from plants that have superficial, fibrous roots. It can simply “strangle” them or deprive them of nutrition, drawing water and necessary macro- and microelements from the soil.

The planting procedure is most often planned for spring. In regions with a temperate climate, this is generally the only possible option. Only in this case can it be guaranteed that the plant will adapt to new living conditions before the first frost and form a sufficiently developed root system that will provide it with everything necessary for wintering.

The crop is deservedly considered frost-resistant, but with planting it is recommended to wait until the air warms up to 12–15°C, and the soil warms up to 8–10°C at a depth of 10–12 cm. The exact landing time depends on the climate in the region. This could be mid-April or late May. You can rely on folk signs - birch leaves beginning to bloom, dandelions blooming.

The planting pit is prepared in advance, at least two to three weeks before the procedure. It’s better to dig it up in the fall, adding all the necessary fertilizers. Its optimal depth is 55–60 cm, diameter is about half a meter. If the quality of the substrate is such that moisture will clearly stagnate in it, pour a bucket (or a little more) of expanded clay, pebbles, crushed stone, small ceramic shards, and brick chips onto the bottom. This will be drainage. It is necessary to form a layer at least 4–5 cm thick.

A layer of drainage is desirable at the bottom of the planting hole for variegated dogwood.

Be sure to add rotted compost or humus - about 10 kg per pit. It needs to be mixed with the top layer (10–15 cm) of fertile soil extracted from it. The variegated dogwood will also gratefully accept mineral fertilizing - 50–70 g of simple superphosphate, 25–30 g of potassium sulfate and 40–50 g of urea are enough. Those who prefer to do without chemicals can replace them with sifted wood ash. A liter jar is enough.

Humus is a natural remedy for increasing soil fertility

The finished planting pit is covered with any material that does not allow water to pass through so that the nutrient mixture at the bottom does not wash away. Suitable, for example, is a piece of slate or roofing felt.

If you plan to plant several single specimens, the minimum distance between planting holes is 1.7–2 m. When forming a hedge, the interval between neighboring bushes is reduced by 2–2.5 times.

If you plan to form a hedge from dogwood bushes, reduce the distance between them

Plants up to four years old are selected for planting. Adult specimens take root much worse. They are purchased (as well as any seedlings) only from reliable, trustworthy suppliers with a good reputation. Shopping at markets, fairs, or simply from hand is a big risk. A gardener, especially an inexperienced one, can be sold anything under the guise of the desired crop. It is advisable that the nursery where the seedlings were grown is located in the same area or nearby. Plants from it are already familiar with the peculiarities of the local climate, this contributes to rapid adaptation to a new place.

When choosing a seedling, you must pay attention to the root system. It must be developed, the length of the tap root must be at least 20 cm. Dried and rotten roots are absent in healthy plants. They should be flexible and creamy white or pale green when cut. The bark of such specimens is smooth, elastic, uniform in color, without spots suspiciously reminiscent of mold or rot.

The choice of planting material must be approached with full responsibility

There is nothing complicated about planting a plant in the ground. Even a novice gardener can cope with this. It is not much different from a similar procedure for other fruit trees and berry bushes.

1. For seedlings with an open root system, the roots are soaked in water at room temperature for 2–3 hours. It is enough to water the specimens in pots generously about half an hour before planting. In the first case, a little potassium permanganate is added to the water (to prevent fungal diseases) and/or any biostimulant (to strengthen the immune system and stimulate growth). Then the roots are coated with a paste of powdered clay diluted with water and fresh cow dung. The consistency of this mass should resemble thick sour cream. It is allowed to dry in the open air. A couple of hours is enough.
2. The nutrient mixture at the bottom of the pit is moderately watered and loosened, and a kind of mound is formed from it. If a single planting is planned, at first you will need support - a peg 25–30 cm high than the seedling, taking into account the depth of the hole. It is stuck into the soil at the bottom, slightly away from the center of the mound.
3. The seedling is placed at the bottom of the hole so that its roots are directed downward and not sticking up and to the sides. Then it is covered with small portions of soil, periodically shaking the plant slightly to fill the “air pockets” that form. The position of the seedling should be such that when the hole is completely filled, the root collar is 2–3 cm above the ground surface. If it is buried, the plant will die. And when it is located too high, weak “offshoots” are formed instead of healthy side shoots.
4. After planting, the soil in the tree trunk circle is well moistened, using 20–25 liters of water heated to room temperature. When the moisture is absorbed, it is carefully loosened shallowly and mulched.

A newly planted variegated dogwood bush needs regular watering.

Video about planting and further work with the crop

Young specimens of variegated dogwood tolerate adaptation to new living conditions and the associated stress quite easily. But for adult plants the process is quite complicated. A transplant is carried out only when it is impossible to do without it. For example, if the place for a bush is chosen extremely poorly, it oppresses other plantings, the leaves have lost the variegated color characteristic of the variety. In addition, it is problematic to remove an adult plant from the ground due to its developed root system.

The procedure is carried out in late autumn, when the turf has completely lost its leaves, or in early spring, when the growth buds have not yet “awakened” and are not swollen. The plant is removed from the ground along with a lump of earth on the roots, trying to damage it as little as possible. The diameter of the root system approximately coincides with the crown of the bush. The earthen lump should be carefully wrapped in polyethylene or burlap and moved to a new place. After transplanting the turf, be sure to water it abundantly, and mulch the soil with humus mixed with peat chips.

Instead of purchasing planting material, you can get it yourself if there are already specimens of variegated dogwood on the site. The plant reproduces well both vegetatively (cuttings, dividing the bush, rooting layering) and generatively (seed germination) methods. The last method of reproduction is the most labor-intensive and time-consuming. In addition, it is impossible to guarantee that the main varietal characteristic - the variegated color of the leaves - will be preserved.

Important nuances of caring for variegated dogwood

Variegated dogwood is a plant from the “plant and forget” category. Many gardeners do this. But in order for the shrub to maintain its decorative appearance and develop normally, a minimum of time and effort will still have to be spent on it.

The main thing the plant needs is regular pruning. Specimens with thickened branches sticking out in different directions, “bald” at the bottom, look very unpresentable. The turf tolerates the procedure well, even if the gardener overdoes it a little. During the active growing season, depending on the growing conditions, the turf tree adds 30–100% of green mass.

An uncontrollably growing bush of variegated dogwood looks rather untidy

The first time pruning is carried out at the beginning of the third season after planting in open ground. No more than a third of all shoots are removed, leaving the most powerful and developed ones.

The dogwood bush tolerates pruning, including radical pruning, with virtually no damage.

The procedure is carried out in early spring, before active sap flow begins, but always at above-zero temperatures. The exception is the hedge, which is formed twice a year, in July and September. For this purpose, use exclusively clean, sharply sharpened and disinfected tools - knives, scissors, pruners. All “wounds” must be thoroughly covered with garden varnish, after being washed with 2% copper sulfate or a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate with the addition of crushed chalk and any fungicide.

Tree pruning is carried out when the plant has completely lost its foliage in the fall or has not yet “woke up” in the spring.

As for the configuration, the gardener is limited solely by his own imagination. A variegated dogwood bush can be given any, the most incredible shape. Not least for this, landscape designers appreciate it. Although many people prefer to simply slightly adjust the natural shape.

Be sure to get rid of broken, leafless, dried, deformed, twisted shoots. Those that grow inwards, thickening the crown, or downwards also look bad.

Only tools that have been disinfected are used for pruning wood.

Variegated dogwood belongs to the category of “chimera” plants. Their tissue cells have differences at the genetic level. Therefore, sometimes a gardener can find monochromatic green leaves on shrubs with initially variegated colors. They, along with the shoots, must be removed in a timely manner, because they are genetically stronger. If you do not trim on time, soon the variegation will disappear altogether.

Video: pruning turf

Young plants and transplanted adult specimens require daily moderate watering during the first week after the procedure. In general, variegated turf can withstand drought and heat without much damage to itself. Powerful roots allow them to draw moisture from deep layers of soil. Adult plants are watered at the root once a month. If there is intense heat for a long time and there is no precipitation, the intervals between procedures are reduced to 5–8 days. Water consumption rate is 20–25 l. By autumn, watering is gradually reduced.

The variegated dogwood bush does not need frequent watering; the root system can easily provide the plant with everything it needs, including moisture

Fertilizing is applied twice during the growing season, in spring and autumn. In the first case, a complex mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is used (Azofoska, Diammofoska, Nitrophoska). 200 g is enough for an adult plant. Once every 3-4 years, you can pour a bucket of humus or rotted compost under the bush, mixing it with the soil during the loosening process.

Azofoska is a common nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus fertilizer

In autumn, the tree needs phosphorus and potassium. A natural source of these macronutrients is wood ash. It is added to the roots in dry form if the weather is rainy. When there is no precipitation for a long time, an infusion is prepared - a half-liter jar of raw materials per 3 liters of boiling water. You can also use complex fertilizers without nitrogen, for example, ABA, Autumn.

Wood ash is a natural source of potassium and phosphorus

During the active growing season, if desired, about once a month you can feed variegated dogwood bushes with natural organic matter. Infusions of fresh cow manure, chicken droppings, nettle greens, and dandelion leaves are suitable for this. In general, any weeds growing in the garden can be used as raw materials. They are crushed and about a third of a deep container is filled. The remainder is added with water. The container is tightly closed and left in direct sunlight for several days. A characteristic “aroma” signals that the fertilizer is ready. Before use, it is filtered and diluted with water in a ratio of 1:8. If the product was prepared using droppings, you will need twice as much.

Nettle infusion is a natural and absolutely free fertilizer

To increase the growth rate, it is useful to feed young (1–2 years) plants with store-bought complex mineral fertilizers, alternating root and foliar feeding. The solution is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions given in the instructions.

Only young variegated dogwood plants under the age of five years need special preparation for winter. Adult specimens can withstand even severe Ural and Siberian frosts without much damage.

The soil in the tree trunk circle is cleared of plant debris and loosened. The mulch layer is updated. It is advisable to use humus or peat chips. At the roots its thickness is 10–15 cm, on the remaining area 5–6 cm is sufficient. If the dimensions of the bush allow, it is covered with a cardboard box of a suitable size. The shoots can be carefully lifted and tied from below for greater compactness. The box is filled with straw, fallen leaves, wood shavings, and crumpled newspaper paper.

Only young variegated dogwood bushes need special preparation for wintering.

Another option is to build a structure like a hut. Poles of suitable height are used as a frame. Several layers of burlap or other air-permeable covering material (agryl, lutrasil, spunbond) are stretched over them.

Video: experience in growing variegated dogwood

Possible problems during cultivation

Variegated dogwood is an extremely problem-free plant. To ruin it, you need to try very hard. It practically does not suffer from pathogenic fungi. The only exception is root rot, the development of which is most often provoked by the gardener himself, who waters the plantings too often and/or abundantly. Pests also do not pay much attention to the bush. Only aphids can cause significant harm to it.

Another possible problem is that the leaves lose their tone and droop. This is due to a lack of moisture in the soil and most often occurs during prolonged heat and drought. It is enough to water the plant generously several times, and its condition will return to normal.

Aphids are effectively repelled by any infusion with a pungent odor. It is enough to treat the bushes twice a month. As raw materials, you can use any herbs, wormwood, yarrow, tomato and potato tops, marigolds, onions and garlic.

Aphids are an extremely omnivorous garden pest that feeds on plant sap.

If pests are detected, the dogwood bush is sprayed with soap foam, and after about half an hour it is washed off with water from a hose. If the desired effect is absent, use the same infusions, but the interval between treatments is reduced to 6–8 hours. Other effective remedies are baking soda or soda ash diluted with water, mustard powder. In the event of a massive pest invasion, any general action insecticides are used.

Root rot is dangerous because the pathogenic fungus develops for a long time without manifesting itself. When the first symptoms are noticeable on the above-ground part of the bush, it is usually too late to save the plant. The bases of the shoots soften, turn black, become slimy to the touch, and may become covered with a layer of mold. They give off an unpleasant putrid smell. The leaves lose their tone, droop, and dark spots appear on them.

Symptoms characteristic of root rot appear only when the development of the disease has already gone far

To prevent the development of rot, potassium permanganate is periodically added to the irrigation water until it turns pale pink. Powdered chalk or wood ash is added to the roots. Having discovered characteristic signs, watering is reduced to the required minimum, all affected shoots are cut off. Trichodermin and Glyocladin granules are added to the soil. The plant itself is sprayed 3-4 times with a solution of any fungicide. But these measures may not produce results. Then the only thing left to do is dig up the firewood bush and burn it. To disinfect the soil in this place, spill a 5% solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux mixture. Layers and cuttings can be taken from the affected plant, but only from healthy shoots.

Due to its unique decorative qualities, turf is often used in the landscape design of summer cottages and urban environments, the varieties and types of which are unpretentious in care, tolerate frosty weather and hot climates well, and are rarely susceptible to diseases and pests. Due to its resistance to various weather conditions, white turf and its varieties bred by breeders remain decorative in all seasons of the year.

Types and varieties

There are more than 45 varieties of the plant, which differ in size, bark color, color and shape of leaves, flowers and fruits. Some varieties of derain are shade-tolerant and drought-resistant.

Derain white

White dogwood (Cornus alba) is a common type of plant. Unofficial names: Tatar derain and Siberian svidina. Grows in central and temperate latitudes. The height of the bush reaches 3 m. The plant has flexible shiny branches with red or red-brown bark, large leaves that are dark green on top and white-gray below. The flowers are small and the fruits are white; Flowering period: May-June.

The most popular varieties of white pork:

1. Sibirica. This shrub is characterized by spreading branches that take on a coral color in winter. The dark green leaves of the plant are oblong in shape and turn purple or burgundy in the fall. Flowering period – June-August. The flowers are white, collected in inflorescences. The fruits are also white, but as they ripen they acquire a bluish tint.
2. Sibirica Variegata. It is distinguished by spreading branches with bright red bark. The large, cream-edged leaves are light green in spring and darker in summer. In autumn the foliage turns purple. Small white flowers smell pleasant. This variety reaches 1.5 m in height.
3. Elengatissima. The plant is distinguished by its large size, spreading branches and green leaves with a wide white border. In autumn the foliage turns yellow, orange or purple.
4. Shpeta (Spaethii). Distinctive features of this decorative variety are large light green leaves with wide yellowish edges, red-brown branch bark and bluish berries.

Read also: Boxwood - simple propagation by cuttings

The shoot tree (Cornus stolonifera) has long branches, flexible shiny shoots, and large oval leaves. A distinctive feature is the numerous root suckers. During the flowering period, small yellowish buds appear, collected in inflorescences. This plant also has decorative varieties, among which the most popular are:

• Flaviramea;
• Nitida;
• Elongata;
• Baileyi;
• Isanti.

Men's derain

Male dogwood (Cornus mas) is a tree with a spreading crown, reaching a height of 8 m. The unofficial name is common dogwood. This species has oval, light green leaves, a trunk with dark bark, and green-yellow young shoots. Distinctive feature: during the flowering period, before the leaves appear, small yellow flowers bloom. Fruit ripening time is August-September. The fruits of different varieties of dogwood differ in shape, color and size.

Derain blood red

Blood-red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a shrub that grows up to 4 m. It has a branched crown. Shoot color: green, red or yellow. The leaves are light green, the autumn color is red-orange. Red pigweed is characterized by black fruits and white buds collected in fluffy inflorescences. The most popular varieties:

1. Variegata;
2. Midwinter Fire;
3. Winter Beauty;
4. New Red.

Tree planting, care and disease control

When planting pigweed, you should choose loose soil. It is desirable that the soil contains humus and is neutral or slightly alkaline. In addition, it is important to clear it of stones and large debris. The suitable period for planting is March-April. Some types of derain are planted in the autumn before the onset of frost.

The plant does not require special care. During dry periods it needs abundant watering. In the spring, pruning is necessary to speed up the growth of shoots. To preserve decorative properties, sanitary haircuts should be used.

Important: in the spring you should feed the plant with nitrogen fertilizers, in the summer - with peat or compost.

Loosening the soil around the tree must be approached carefully and carefully so as not to damage the root system.

Read also: Growing mock orange ermine mantle

Svidina is rarely susceptible to diseases and attacks of harmful insects. To prevent fungal diseases, watering must be done at the root, without touching the foliage. If affected by powdery mildew, treat the plant with fungicides and prune the affected branches. You can get rid of aphids and other pests by spraying with special chemicals.

Using derain in landscape design

Due to its rapid growth rate, various varietal varieties of pigweed are used in gardening design. The plant is used in single and group dense plantings. Dogwood goes well with deciduous crops and coniferous trees, large herbs, low-growing perennials and flowers.

Svidina is a suitable plant for a summer house and garden plot, for landscaping urban space. It tolerates pruning well, so it is often used when planting hedges and fences.