Cornus alba 'Elegantissima', variegated Tartarian dogwood
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Deciduous Shrubs

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

variegated Tartarian dogwood

Cornaceae

Siberia, northern China, Korea, and Manchuria

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m)
Width6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

2 - 8
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' is a deciduous suckering shrub grown for two distinct ornamental qualities: distinctive gray-green leaves boldly margined with creamy white throughout the growing season, and vivid coral-red young stems that provide intense winter color when the foliage has fallen. It reaches 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) tall and 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) wide, forming a dense, arching, multi-stemmed thicket. The variegated leaves emerge in spring with soft pink tones and mature to gray-green edged with an irregular creamy-white margin 0.25–0.5 inch (6–12 mm) wide — effective for brightening shaded borders through summer. In fall, foliage turns pink to reddish-purple before dropping. The primary winter feature — coral to bright red stems — is only present on young growth of 1 and 2 years old; stems 3 years and older turn dull brown and lose their color entirely. This means annual or biennial coppicing (cutting all stems to 6–12 inches / 15–30 cm from the ground in late winter) is essential to maintain the stem display. Without hard annual pruning, the shrub loses its ornamental value progressively as old brown stems dominate. Note: 'Elegantissima' exists as a cultivar name in both Cornus alba and Cornus sericea; the OSU Landscape Plants database references the Cornus sericea form. The two are closely related and similar in appearance, but C. alba 'Elegantissima' stems tend toward coral-red while C. sericea 'Elegantissima' tends toward deeper red. Great Plant Picks endorsed.

Native Range

Cornus alba (Tatarian dogwood) is native to Siberia and northern China east to Korea and Manchuria in moist woodland edges and stream banks. 'Elegantissima' is a cultivar selected for variegated foliage.

Suggested Uses

Excellent for winter stem color in Pacific Northwest landscapes — the coral-red young stems against winter skies or evergreen backgrounds are highly effective from November through March. Great Plant Picks endorsed. Well-suited to wet or moist sites including stream banks, rain gardens, and wet woodland edges where many ornamental shrubs struggle. The variegated summer foliage brightens shaded borders from spring through fall. Effective in mass plantings where the combined stem and foliage display is maximized. Pairs well with Cornus sericea (red-osier dogwood), Salix alba 'Britzensis' (orange-stemmed willow), and yellow-stemmed dogwoods for a winter stem tapestry.

How to Identify

Identified in summer by gray-green leaves with creamy-white margins 0.25–0.5 inch (6–12 mm) wide — the variegation is irregular and creates a bright, frosted appearance. Leaves are opposite with characteristic dogwood venation (veins curving toward the leaf tip). In winter, young coral-red stems 1–2 years old are the defining feature; these contrast with older brown stems on unpruned plants. Small clusters of white flowers in May through June and white to bluish-white berries in late summer confirm the Cornus alliance. Distinguished from Cornus sericea 'Elegantissima' (very similar) by slightly more coral (less deep red) stem color.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 8'
Width/Spread6' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green
white

Fall Foliage Colors

pink
red

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
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Spring
Small clusters of creamy-white four-petaled flowers in flat-topped corymbs 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) across appear in May through June — modest but not without charm. White to bluish-white berries 0.25 inch (6 mm) develop in late summer and early fall, attracting birds. The primary ornamental feature is winter stem color on hard-pruned plants, not the flowers.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

creamy white

Foliage Description

gray-green with creamy-white margins in summer; pink to reddish-purple in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Full Shade
Requires 2-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysilt
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

The critical care practice is annual or biennial hard coppicing in late winter (February through March): cut all stems to 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) from the ground. This is non-negotiable for maintaining vivid coral-red winter stems — only the current season's growth has bright color, and without hard pruning the shrub progressively fills with dull brown old stems. The sacrifice is that coppiced plants do not flower or fruit heavily. Grows in full sun to part shade; tolerates wet to moist soils — excellent at stream banks, rain gardens, and boggy edges. Adapts to a wide range of soil types. Spreads by suckering — control spread by removing suckers at their base. Established plants are vigorous and require no special feeding.

Pruning

Hard coppice annually in late winter (February through March): cut all stems to 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) from the ground. This is the essential maintenance practice — young stems (current year's growth) are coral-red; older stems are brown. Annual coppicing ensures the maximum proportion of vivid young stems each winter. If flowering and berrying are priorities, a compromise is to remove only the oldest one-third of stems each year, rotating over three years — this maintains some color while allowing some flowering. Full coppicing produces the most dramatic winter stem display but minimal flowers.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

moderate

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets