Derain the best varieties

In winter in Tomsk, when all the colors have faded, you can walk along the embankment and see small bright pieces of summer - red thin branches that resist winter, do not fade under the snow and remind us that frosts are not eternal, that soon all nature will again be dazzled with its summer splendor ... It was for this reminder of summer that I fell in love with dogwood, or, as it is sometimes called, svidina.

Dogwood in winter

Doren: general description of the genus

Dogwood is a genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs of the northern hemisphere, belongs to the Cornaceae family. Some classifiers combine Svidina with the genus Cornel, therefore dogwood and dogwood share a common Latin name - Cornus.

Dogwood variegated

Representatives of the dogwood genus are distinguished by year-round decorativeness. In summer, they stand out with white or golden inflorescences, and some varieties have extraordinary foliage. In autumn we can admire their snow-white, blue or black berries against the background of crimson or scarlet foliage, while winter allows us to see exotic bush branches - red, orange, yellow, bright green ...

I remember how, as a child, I brought from the forest a purple branch of svidina with deathly blue berries. Parents immediately threw it out - in their opinion, the berries of the bush looked suspicious and dangerous. However, they were afraid in vain. The turf berries are not poisonous, despite their strange appearance.

Dogwood can often be found in the forests of Russia. It is distinguished by its absolute undemandingness to soil, climatic and environmental conditions. Some species are hardy enough to grow well even in Siberia in the north of the Tomsk region and other cold regions. On the Tom embankment, it perfectly withstands icy winds, light snow on the slopes and quickly recovers from damage from the spring ice drift.

The use of turf in landscape design

Svidina has become a versatile shrub in landscape design these days and is used in different ways.

If your garden is visible and blown from all sides - a dense high hedge made of turf will help protect more whimsical plants from the wind and you from unnecessary eyes. Dogwood is very pleased with its growth rate (about half a meter a year) and excellent branching, so the hedge from this shrub is formed quickly by frequent haircuts.

Turf hedge

If you want to protect the slope from erosion and landslides, plant dogwood. Its roots and dense growth will perfectly cope with the task of strengthening the soil.

Need to decorate your garden with decorative plantings? Do not forget to choose some interesting sort of turf for decorative groups: it is unlikely to require care, and the eye will certainly delight. Dogwood perfectly tolerates moisture in the soil and looks great in plantings near water bodies.

Dogwood in landscape design

Of course, it would be a good idea to use svidina in the garden of cereals and dried flowers, designed to be perceived not only during the growing season, but also in the winter season. In winter, among dead wood, bright branches will be a good accent in the garden, and berries on the branches will complement this accent.

Turf planting, care and disease control

The turf planting is carried out immediately after the retreat of spring frosts according to the standard method. Don't bury the root collar, fertilize with fresh manure, and don't forget to spill well after planting - these are the basic rules I can remind you of for planting turf.

Dogwood is shade-tolerant, tolerates both poor and waterlogged soils, but remember that he will not give up a sunny place, fertile garden land and drainage.

Derain planting

Caring for dogwood is simple and is needed mainly to improve the decorative qualities of the plant. Watering during dry periods, mulching with peat crumb, weeding, shallow loosening of the soil, top dressing and pruning will help your shrub to be beautiful.

It is better to feed svidina in two stages: in spring - complex mineral fertilizers, and in the middle of summer - organic fertilizers. But without timely feeding the dogwood will live quietly and will not notice anything, but without pruning it will live like a ram without a haircut.

Sanitary pruning of turf is carried out in the spring after the leaves bloom, when it becomes clear which branches are alive and which are dead. If you want to enjoy the abundant flowering and foliage of the shrub, prune to the desired length in the fall (but no more than two-thirds of the shoots). If you want to admire the scarlet branches above the snow canopy, postpone pruning until early spring. Since dogwood grows very quickly, many gardeners will prune a third or a quarter of the shoots 2-3 times per season to keep the bush neat.

When the bush on your site begins to age, you can safely cut off all the shoots in early spring so that they do not rise more than 15 cm above the ground. With the beginning of the growing season, young bright shoots will take the place of decrepit branches.

Most species and varieties of turf do not require shelter for the winter. Sometimes they are just covered with snow just in case. But thermophilic varieties, like Japanese turf, do not hurt to cover, so always check with the sellers of planting material if the variety you have chosen requires shelter in your climatic zone.

Now about the diseases of Svidina. The "four horsemen of the apocalypse" when growing turf are gray rot, powdery mildew, aphids and scale insects. The first two riders are fungal diseases, so when the first symptoms appear, you should reduce watering (fungi actively multiply and spread in an environment with high humidity) and treat the bush with Bordeaux liquid or preparations "Hom", "Vectra". Aphids and scale insects are malicious pests, the fight against them can be carried out both with the help of treatment with chemicals like "Karbofos", and with the help of decoction of the tops of potatoes, yarrow, tobacco.

Top 5 most popular types of turf

Dogwood (Cornus alba). The most common type and the undoubted leader in popularity for use in landscape design. In good conditions, the bush can reach up to 3 meters in height and width. Dogwood has erect shoots of dark red or scarlet color, depending on their age. Along with the color of the shoots, the color of the foliage is remarkable - green large leaves will turn purple-burgundy in autumn. And the beautiful white caps of inflorescences, pleasing to the eye from May to June, by autumn will turn into clusters of blue-white berries.

For more than a hundred years, breeders have been working on breeding variegated varieties of svidina on the basis of this very tenacious and winter-hardy species. The most famous fruits of their labors are ‘Elegantissima’, ‘Sibirica’, ‘Sibirica Variegata’ and ‘Aurea’ - these varieties of variegated turf are widely used in landscape design.

• The ‘Elegantissima’ variety is characterized by the presence of a wide white border on the bluish-green leaves of the shrub. The sprawling 'Elegantissima' turf shrub of 2.5 meters with red shoots really looks elegant and will be a great tapeworm in your area.

  Doren Elegantissima

• ‘Sibirica’ and ‘Sibirica Variegata’ are not tall (about 1.5 meters) by the standards of turf, which can boast of a discouraging brightness of the shoots: their color is coral red, very rich. 'Sibirica Variegata' differs from its relative by the presence of a snow-white border and stripes on the leaves.

  Dogwood Sibirica Variegata

• ‘Aurea’ is the strain for fall lovers.The two-meter bush will delight you with yellow foliage on red branches all summer long, you don't have to wait for September to admire its colors!

  Dogwood Aurea

It should be noted that any variegated dogwood will reveal its qualities much better only in a well-lit place. In shading, the leaves of the plant will produce more chlorophyll than other pigments and they will turn green.

Dogwood red (Сornus sanguinea), or blood-red dogwood, is common throughout Europe and resembles white dogwood. But this species is much higher (up to 4 m, according to some sources - up to 7 m), has larger leaves, drooping shoots of various colors, depending on the variety. It got its name for its autumn dress - huge blood-red leaves decorated with small blue-black berries.

It is a pity that such a handsome man will not grow in our harsh Siberia, it is best to grow it within its natural range.

Сornus sanguinea

Dogwood (Cornus canadensis) is widespread in North America and the Far East, it can be found even in Greenland and the Japanese islands. Canadian dogwood in landscape design is used as a ground cover plant in compositions, rockeries and to create a shrub lawn. And we understand why, because its life form is a dwarf half-shrub only 20 cm high with herbaceous stems and large elongated leaves. Unlike other dogwoods, it grows slowly. The flowers of the Canadian svidina are subtle, but the bracts, large and white, give the impression of large single flowers on the plant from June to July. Scarlet berries ripen in August. They enliven the green carpet with bright splashes.

Dogwood canadian

For this shrub, a semi-shady place with moist acidic soils will be ideal. Well, you should not worry about winter hardiness - thermophilic species do not survive in Greenland. The main thing is to sprinkle it with better snow. In their natural environment, these plants live in snowy areas.

Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa) is sometimes also called Benthamidia kousa and Cynoxylon kousa. The birthplace of bentramia is China and Japan. In nature, it grows in the form of a small deciduous tree or a tall shrub 5-7 meters high. Like the canadian turf, in this species the bracts play the role of petals.

Dogwood Japanese

The peculiarity of Japanese turf is that its dark pink fruits are visually similar to raspberries, but are valued only for their decorative effect. "Raspberries" look very pompous on a tree in autumn against the background of bright red foliage and can become an excellent tapeworm or accent of a decorative group.

Japanese dogwood will feel good only in the south of Russia, in the middle lane the bush will require shelter for the winter.

The enterprising Japanese have learned to grow dogwood as a bonsai-style houseplant. Therefore, if you really liked this particular type of turf, and you do not live in Sochi, look for a good master of the art of bonsai.

Shooting dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) is similar in appearance to white dogwood. The shoot-bearing dogwood is distinguished by a large looseness of the bush and continuous vegetative reproduction by offspring. The lower branches, approaching the ground, quickly root and the bush grows strongly in breadth.

A couple of varieties of this restless species deserve special attention: ‘Koralle’ and ‘Cardinal’. They are both curious with their yellow bark. The ‘Koralle’ is much taller than ‘Cardinal’ (up to 2.5 meters), bears fruit with black berries, so beloved birds, and boasts bright yellow shoots all year round.

But the shoots of the ‘Cardinal’ variety are yellow-green in summer, but by winter they will acquire red shades. The berries of this shrub are white and inedible even for birds, the shoots rise only a meter from the ground. Therefore, it is often used specifically for low, up to a meter, hedges - free or molded.

Conclusion

I have described only a few types and a very small number of svidina varieties.Breeders have bred so many of them that you can't throw them out the window in a day, as they say. Therefore, you can find for yourself a lot of bold, elegant and reliable design solutions using the beloved turf.

Article author: Galina Duryagina

White Derain (Cornus Alba) is an original garden culture with unique decorative qualities. The shrub is able to decorate the garden area, delighting with its beauty throughout the year.

All types of turf are considered to be spectacular ornamental crops, but white turf has won special love among Russian gardeners.

The shrub is also called white dogwood and pork. And in the west and in the United States, the dogwood is called a dogwood. This is probably due to the fact that the deren fruits resemble wolf berries. However, it is possible that dogwood is a modified form of the word dagwood, which means "wood." Previously, in fact, shrubs made weapons from this wood - knives, daggers. Also, the bush is popularly called the redbush.

The shrub belongs to the Cornelian family. Derain white belongs to the species that get along well on the territory of Russia, since it is perfectly adapted to harsh winters. This is a large culture. Its branches are spreading and flexible. Branch bark coloration: red, red-brown. In natural nature, krasnotal is often found along roadsides, on the shores of reservoirs and on forest edges.

The shrub is beautiful all year round. At the end of the summer season, fruits ripen, which are round and white in color. Their diameter does not exceed 8 mm. At this time, white small flowers appear, which are collected in inflorescences. In the autumn, the foliage of the shrub is decorative. It takes on possible colors: burgundy, orange, crimson. And even in winter, against the background of white snow, the reddish bark of the deren looks very beautiful.

Varieties

Thanks to the work of breeders, varietal species of this plant were bred.

Siberia (Sibirica)Is a popular variety in Russia. This is an ornamental shrub. Differs in spreading branches, the bark of which has the color of corals. The bark takes on a particularly bright color in winter. The bush grows up to 3 meters in height. The leaves are oblong and dark green in color. With the onset of the autumn season, they acquire purple and burgundy colors. After the rains, the color of the foliage becomes even more juicy, while drought is fraught with their pallor and rapid fall.

From early summer to autumn, Siberia blooms with white flowers, which are collected in inflorescences in the form of shields. At the same time, the fruits ripen. At first they are white, and as they mature, they become bluish.

It is shade-tolerant and frost-resistant. It is widely used in garden design. Shrubs grow out in groups, from which beautiful hedges, mixborders from shrubs are created. It can also be used for landscaping parks, squares and squares.

Siberica

Elengatissima Is a common shrub variety. Differs in large size - up to 3 meters in height and width. Differs in spreading branches, decorative bark and foliage throughout all seasons of the year. Can live for over 50 years.

Flowering begins in May and ends at the end of June. Flowering is represented by small flowers that are colored white. They are formed into inflorescences in the form of scutes. The foliage of the leaves is very decorative. Green leaves are distinguished by the presence of a wide white border. Can be up to 8 cm in length. In autumn, they take on yellow, orange or purple hues. At the beginning of the autumn period, berry-like fruits ripen, which have a bluish color.

The variety is characterized by fast growth. For a year, it can grow by 40 cm both in height and in width. Elengatissima is a drought-resistant, frost-resistant and shade-tolerant variety. The shoots are distinguished by a red bark, they look especially great in the winter season.

The variety is good for group plantings, planting in cities, squares and parks.It goes well with other shrubs. The ideal application is the creation of hedges.

Elengatissima

Siberica Variegata (Sibirica Variegata) - varietal variety, somewhat similar to Elengatissima. Moreover, its dimensions are somewhat smaller. The height that the bush can reach is 1.5 meters. Shrub diameters - up to 2 meters. Branches are spreading, deep red.

The leaves are large, dark green inside with a cream-colored border. From a distance they resemble just a white spot. With the onset of autumn, the leaves turn purple, while the border remains light. This makes the shrub very decorative throughout the year. It blooms with white small flowers with a greenish tint. The flowers have a pleasant aroma. White fruits take on a bluish tint as they ripen.

It is shade-tolerant, winter-hardy and drought-resistant variety. It is used for group plantings, goes well with deciduous and coniferous shrubs. Perfect for small gardens and hedges.

Siberica Variegata

Shpet (Spaethii)- decorative variety. On average, it grows up to 2 meters. It is distinguished by its incredible beauty in the autumn period due to the purple color of the leaves with the preservation of the yellow border.

Castings are large in size. In summer they are light green with a wide yellowish border, and in autumn they turn purple, while the color of the border remains. The bark of the branches is reddish brown. Looks great in winter against the background of white snowdrifts. Berry-like fruits ripen in September, they are characterized by a bluish tinge. Small white flowers form inflorescences no more than 5 cm in size. Flowering lasts from May to July.

The variety is distinguished by shade tolerance, drought tolerance and frost resistance, however, it often freezes during dry and cold winters. Shpeta is a good specimen and also great for planting in groups. One of the uses of the variety is the creation of hedges.

Shpet

Ivory Halo Is a decorative varietal variety. Its height does not exceed 1.5 meters. The shoots are cherry colored, they form a compact crown. The green leaves have a wide yellowish border. In autumn, the leaves change color to purple.

It blooms with small yellowish flowers. They form in inflorescences in the form of scutes. The fruit ripens in September. They are white and spherical. As the fruits ripen, they take on a bluish tint.

Ivory Halo is suitable for planting in groups and as a tapeworm. It goes well with other deciduous and coniferous shrubs. Good for the formation of hedges and urban landscaping.

Ivory Halo

Landing

Planting deren Sibirica, Elengatissim and all the others does not require special skills and knowledge. The shrub is unpretentious. It is not required for the composition of the substrate. At the same time, it grows better and longer on fertile soil. It is better to choose cultivated soil that is free of stones and various debris. However, the vacant lots and streets of the city are also suitable for the successful growth of deer.

Derain white does not like acidic soils, so it is better if the soil is neutral or slightly alkaline. The shrub is fond of the high content of humus in the soil. In addition, a good drainage layer is required. There should be no stagnation of water in the ground. It is advisable to choose areas for planting where the soil is loose. In such a soil, the root system will develop much better.

For planting plants, it is best to choose places well-lit by the sun. However, the lawn grows well in partial shade, since most varieties are shade-tolerant. However, in strong shade, the leaves will not be as bright as in the sun. This is especially true for such varieties as Elengatissima, Sibirika Variegata, Shpet.

Planting is desirable in early spring, when the ground has not yet thawed. If a seedling was purchased that has a closed root system, then it can be planted at the end of autumn.It is better to do this at least a month before the arrival of stable frosts, so that the plant adapts to such conditions.

The planting hole should be slightly larger in diameter than the size of the root system.

Derain of Siberia and Morrow sedge

Care

Adult specimens tolerate drought well, but young plants need high-quality watering. Watering should be abundant so that the entire root system is saturated with moisture. Insufficient watering can lead to shrinkage of the shoots. Adult plants should not be watered as abundantly as young plants. An exception is a prolonged drought.

Rolling leaves and drooping branches are a clear sign of a lack of moisture. If this happens, then the culture needs to be watered abundantly, moistening not only the surface of the soil, but also the entire root ball.

In the midday heat, you cannot water the culture. The optimal time is early morning or evening hours.

Spring care includes pruning, top dressing, and occasional watering.

Top dressing is mainly needed only for young specimens. It is recommended to feed with humus or humus. Adult plants need fertilization only after diseases or pruning, as well as if the bush develops poorly or slowly.

Shelter for the winter is not required, since white turf is a frost-resistant crop. For example, the Elegantissima variety is able to withstand the most severe frosts. Even if the trunk of the bush freezes above the snow cover, then with the arrival of spring the plant will quickly recover.

Composition with geycher and allium onion.

Propagation by cuttings

Seed propagation of sod is a long and difficult process, therefore it is used extremely rarely. In view of this, propagation by cuttings is used for the varieties of Elengatissim, Siberik and others.

Semi-lignified or lignified cuttings are used for propagation. If there are many cuttings, then they can be planted in cold greenhouses. If it is not enough, then separate containers are taken, flower pots will do.

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in the spring.

Planted cuttings should be watered and sprayed regularly.

This method of reproduction allows you to get a large number of new plants.

Conservatory curb at Bressingham Gardens, Norfolk, UK.

Pruning and trimming

Anti-aging pruning is necessary in the spring. You can do this in the fall, but in the winter the culture looks very decorative, so pruning in the fall is not worth it. When pruning, all old branches are cut off. Pruning stimulates the growth of new young shoots. Leave the height of the shoots about 20 cm from the stump.

Several times a season (about 3 times), the crop is sheared. Since the crown is very spreading, it needs to be shaped. Usually given an oval or spherical shape. In addition to improving the visual appearance, trimming helps to preserve the decorative properties of the shrub.

Varieties (Elengatissima, Sibirika and others) lend themselves well to pruning and shearing.

Application in landscape design

Derain white is used in single and group plantings, used for mixborders from deciduous and coniferous shrubs. With the help of it, hedges are created, as well as winter gardens.

Ivory Halo

In addition, the shrub is perfect for landscaping cities. It is often planted near schools, medical institutions, on city alleys and squares. This is possible due to the deren's resistance to urban conditions. He is not afraid of dust, exhaust gases.

Deren white partners can be:

• Coniferous shrubs;
• Spirea;
• Barberry;
• Ferns;
• Alissum;
• Ivy.

Review on video

A story about the plant, how to use it in the garden - from the garden center Greensad (Greensad).

Due to the unique decorative qualities in the landscape design of summer cottages and the urban environment, derain is often used, the varieties and types of which are unpretentious in care, tolerate frosty weather and hot climate well, 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, color of the bark, color and shape of leaves, flowers and fruits. Some varieties of deren are shade and drought tolerant.

Derain white

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

The most popular varieties of white svidina:

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

Derain offspring

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

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

Derain male

Derain male (Cornus mas) is a tree with a spreading crown, reaching a height of 8 m. The unofficial name is ordinary 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 common dogwood differ in shape, color and size.

Derain blood red

Blood-red derain (Cornus sanguinea) is a shrub that grows up to 4 m. It has a branched crown. Shoot color: green, red or yellow. Leaves are light green, autumn color is red-orange. Svidina red 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.

Turf planting, care and disease control

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

The plant does not require any special care. In a dry season, it needs abundant watering. In the spring, pruning is necessary to speed up the growth of the shoots. To preserve the decorative properties, sanitary haircuts must be applied.

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

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

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

The use of deren in landscape design

Due to the rapid growth rate, various varietal varieties of svidina are used in landscape gardening design. The plant is used in single and group dense plantings. Cornel goes well with deciduous crops and conifers, large grasses, dwarf perennials and flowers.

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

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At first glance, most species of deren, or svidina (genus Cornus L.), common in temperate latitudes, are nothing of interest: large bushes with ordinary green leaves and small nondescript whitish flowers. But with the onset of autumn days, these plants change their rustic appearance. It is impossible not to notice them due to the abundance of orange-red or purple-violet leaves, against the background of which clusters of snow-white or blue-black fruits stand out. Well, in winter, some derens delight with the bright color of the bark - coral, bright yellow or green.

Bright shoots - decoration of the winter garden. Photo: AiF / Svetlana Kazarova The variegated forms of the deren liven up and highlight the dark corners of the garden, making the area lighter. They can also be planted in the foreground to visually deepen the space. Derens with variegated and yellow-colored leaves can also be used in hedges. To avoid excessive variegation or, conversely, monotony, it is useful to add plants with green leaves to them when planting.

Recognized leader

White Derain (Cornus alba L.) is perhaps the most common in gardens and urban landscaping. It is an erect deciduous shrub up to 3 m high. The bark of its branches is painted bright red, which makes the bushes look very beautiful in winter against the background of white snow and evergreens. Large leaves, dark green above and whitish-gray below, are painted in bright purple and red tones in autumn. Inconspicuous creamy-white flowers are collected in small inflorescences. Flowering begins at the end of May and lasts until late autumn, so that on one bush you can simultaneously see both flowers and round white fruits with a bluish tinge.

In the fall, deren are especially smart. Photo: AiF / Svetlana Kazarova

Derain white can grow in any areas, but it thrives on water bodies, on loose moist sandy loam soils. It is very valuable for household plots with a close groundwater table. Shade-tolerant, grows quickly, does not creep, only in adulthood gives a small root shoot.

His outfits

Separately, I would like to dwell on the forms of white turf with an unusual color of the leaves. So, in the varieties 'Argenteo-marginata' and 'Elegantissima', the leaves are decorated with a bright white border, spots and stripes (the latter has a narrower border). They do not lose their color even in the shade - this is why the derain compares favorably with other ornamental-leaved shrubs. Plants grow to a height of 3 m. Another white-bordered variety, 'Sibirica Variegata', has shorter and denser bushes with coral-red branches.

Derain white 'Argenteo-marginata'. Photo: AiF / Svetlana Kazarova

Lovers of shrubs with golden foliage also have plenty to choose from. For example, in the 'Aurea' form, the leaves bloom bright yellow and retain this color for a long time.Bushes of the 'Spaethii' variety are up to 2.5 m high, and each leaf is bordered around the entire perimeter by a wide golden strip. This color lasts throughout the season, and in the spring, when the leaves bloom, a beautiful reddish-orange tint is added to it. Well, in the ‘Gauchaultii’ variety (bush height up to 1.5 m), slightly drooping leaves are covered with white, yellow and pink spots.

Derain white ‘Spaethii’. Photo: AiF / Svetlana Kazarova The ‘Sibirica’ variety has the most ornate coral shoots. 'Atrosanguinea' has raspberry-colored branches, 'Kesselringii' has purple-black branches, and leaves brown when blooming. ‘Westonbirt’ will delight you with dark coral pink shoots.

Other relatives

Another European species is also beautiful - red deren, or blood-red svidina (C. sanguinea L.). It is quite tall, up to 4 m, shrub with drooping or outstretched branches. At a young age, they are green, then purple or brown-red. This tree is especially decorated in autumn, with numerous clusters of black fruits and burgundy autumn leaves. Prefers calcareous soils. The shrub is extremely shade-tolerant.

The North American relative is the scion bush (C. stolonifera Michx.), Or silky (C. sericea L.), is close to the white bush, but differs in the ability to produce many root suckers. The branches of this shrub are long and root easily, in contact with the ground. This species also has many decorative forms. For example, ‘Flaviramea’ has a bright green-yellow color of young shoots, ‘Nitida’ is bright green, and ‘Elongata’, in addition to green shoots, also stands out with long narrow leaves. Other varieties with reddish brown and red bark: ‘Baileyi’ is a three-meter shrub that does not produce offspring; ‘Isanti’ - compact bush up to 1 m tall; 'Kelseyi' is a dwarf up to 50 cm tall with bright red shoots.

Among the trees, there are species that are used not only as decorative, but also as fruit crops. Derain male (C. mas L.), often called dogwood, is known precisely for its delicious sweet and sour fruits. It grows in the form of a low tree up to 8 m or a large shrub up to 3-4 m in height. Cornel is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but it develops better on fertile, slightly moist soil containing lime (the optimum acidity is 6–7). Propagated by seeds that germinate in the second year. Dogwood fruits. Photo: AiF / Svetlana Kazarova

How to grow?

Most trees are very grateful plants. They are undemanding to light, soil composition and moisture. They are planted both singly and in groups, used in sheared or free-growing hedges, as well as for fixing steep slopes and river banks.

There are flowering species of tree trees, which have large (up to 6 cm in diameter) white or pink wrappers around the flowers - Natela tree (C. Nuttalii Audub), Japanese tree (S. Kousa Hance), capitate (C. capitata Wall.) And flowering (C florida L.). Unfortunately, they are weakly winter-resistant and in central Russia are doomed to freezing out, even with shelter.

Svidins are propagated by seeds, cuttings, root suckers. Seeds are harvested as they ripen, since flowering and fruiting are stretched. They are sown in late autumn or spring after a 4-month stratification, embedding them to a depth of 3-4 cm. The rooting rate of semi-lignified cuttings in most trees is about 90%.

The key to the decorative effect of deren bushes is the correct shaping. After all, they give many new shoots every year. Plants that are grown for their beautiful foliage will be compact and beautiful if every third shoot is cut from them as close to the ground as possible. Such pruning should begin when the dogwood reaches the age of three. First of all, the weakest and oldest branches are cut, then those that violate the shape of the bush.

Decorative forms with brightly colored shoots will look more attractive if the entire bush is regularly cut every two years at a height of 5 cm from the base.This stimulates the formation of new shoots with a brighter bark color.

See also:

• Spirea: the subtleties of care and reproduction →
• Two types of garden viburnum →
• Your personal lilac →