The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Silver and Gold red-osier dogwood

Family: Cornaceae (dogwood family)

Synonym: Cornus stolonifera 'Silver and Gold'

Distribution: Species native to North America and Mexico

Hardiness: USDA Zone 4

Life form: Deciduous shrub/Subshrub

Comments: One of several variegated forms of the species but somewhat unusual in that this variegation is combined with bright yellow stems. This deciduous shrub is neat and tidy and matures to only about 5' tall but spreads variably by suckers. Leaves are 2-5" long, opposite, light green with silver-white streaks along the margins. Flowers and fruits are like that of the species. Its stems maintain an excellent bright yellow color throughout winter becoming lighter yellow in summer and, for the most part, free of stem cankering.