Content
White dogwood is found in the wild not only in Russia, but also on other continents. Thanks to its beautiful appearance, this plant is well known to many lovers of ornamental shrubs and landscape designers. It can decorate the garden at any time of the year, while caring for it is very simple and will not be difficult even for inexperienced gardeners.
Description of white wood
In botanical literature you can often find the following synonymous names for this plant:
- White dogwood.
- White pork.
- Svida is white.
- The telescreen is white.
White dogwood (Cornus Alba) is a perennial deciduous shrub with straight shoots. Belongs to the Kizilov genus, the Kizilov family.
The main characteristics of white wood are shown in the table.
Parameter | Meaning |
Escapes | Smooth, arched in old age, various shades of reddish (in spring - bright red) color. |
Leaves | Elliptical, with a smooth edge, up to 10 cm in length and up to 7 cm in width. The petioles are short, up to 1 cm. 3-5 arcuate veins are clearly visible on the leaf blade. The leaf blade is dark green above, bluish below, pubescent on both sides. |
Flowers | Corollas with 4 petals are white, collected in dense shields up to 5 cm in diameter at the ends of the shoots. |
Fruit | Inedible drupes are bluish in color, when ripe they are white or slightly bluish. |
Spreading | From the North-Western part of Russia to the Far East. Found in Western Europe, Mongolia and Japan, China and Korea. |
White tree crown diameter
An adult white dogwood bush can reach significant sizes. Individual specimens can grow up to 5 m in diameter. Often nearby bushes intertwine with each other, forming impenetrable thickets. This feature of white dogwood is used by landscape designers when creating hedges.
White tree height
Separately standing shrub bushes can grow up to 3 m in height. In ornamental gardening and landscape design, their growth is often artificially limited by cutting shoots at a height of 1.5-1.7 m and giving them a rounded shape.
How fast does white turf grow?
White dogwood is characterized by rapid growth of shoots. Over the course of a year, their length can increase by 0.5 m or more, depending on care and weather conditions.
White dogwood in landscape design
White dogwood is a real find for novice landscape designers. This plant looks great in individual plantings and in groups, and it does not lose its decorative effect even in winter. Its crown can be shaped without fear of consequences, since the shrub tolerates pruning well.
White dogwood in landscape design – pictured below.
White dogwood is widely used for landscaping streets, parks and squares; it is unpretentious and undemanding to care for, and withstands the vagaries of the weather and the gas pollution of big cities. It is often planted in the territories of healthcare institutions, hospitals and sanatoriums.
White derain hedge
Growing hedges is one of the main areas of using white dogwood in landscape design. This is due to the decorative properties of this shrub; it does not lose its attractiveness at any time of the year. Derain is unpretentious in care and undemanding to the soil. It is easy to shape and tolerates pruning well. Hedges perfectly camouflage simple or nondescript fences, giving the area a more presentable appearance. They can also act as independent elements of a landscape gardening composition.
Growing a hedge from white deer is quite simple. To do this, seedlings are planted in a row at a distance of 1-1.2 m from each other. After a year (for autumn planting - after a year and a half), all the bushes are cut to the same height - 15-20 cm from the ground. This is done in early spring, before the beginning of the growing season. Using this technique, the growth of lateral shoots is stimulated, the density of the bushes is artificially increased, and the hedge becomes denser.Once the bushes reach the age of 3 years, you can begin to form the crown, cutting it in accordance with the selected type.
White dogwood at a young age has quite flexible shoots, so it is often used to form arches and semi-arches, thus designing paths and alleys. Initially, the branches are fixed with twine, giving them the desired direction. Over time, the bush gets used to it and independently maintains the required shape.
What does white derain go with?
Derain is not an antagonist and goes well with almost all garden plants. It grows well next to other shrubs: barberry, spray roses, boxwood. For decorative purposes, it is often planted next to coniferous trees.
Varieties of white turf
White dogwood has quite a few varieties and varieties. Many of them are used in landscape design. Here are the most famous of them:
- White-edged dogwood.
- White derain Kesselrings.
- White Siberian dogwood.
- White dogwood Argenteomarginata.
- Deren Ivorikhalo.
- Derain white Cream Cracker.
- White dogwood Pearl.
- White dogwood Svidina.
- White dogwood Gouchaulti.
- White Variegata derain.
- White dogwood Shpet (Spaethii).
Photos and descriptions of the main varieties of white wood are given below.
White-edged dogwood
White-bordered dogwood is a low deciduous shrub, widespread in Russia, Europe and North America. Its distinctive feature is the leaves: pointed-ovate in shape, with a pronounced light stripe along the edge of the leaf plate. Thanks to this, the bush has a light openwork appearance, which is why it is used by many to decorate summer cottages and local areas. In autumn, the color of the leaves changes to crimson with purple hues.
The white-edged turf is also beautiful during flowering, at which time it forms magnificent caps of white flowers. In their place, clusters of small white-blue berries then ripen, which also look quite attractive.
White Derain Kesselrings
White dogwood Kesselringii (Kesselringii) is a deciduous shrub up to 3 m tall with a spreading crown. Used for decorative purposes due to its attractive appearance. It is distinguished by straight shoots of purple-violet, almost black color, looking very impressive in autumn, winter and spring.
The leaves are dark green above and gray below, with a red-brown tint, oval, up to 12 cm long. In autumn, the leaf blade turns red-violet or brown-red. Blooms in early summer. The flowers are small, milky or cream-colored, collected in corymbs up to 5 cm in diameter. The fruits of the white Kesselringi tree are spherical drupes, milky in color with a blue tint.
Therefore, to maintain a decorative appearance, it is necessary to carry out constant anti-aging pruning, stimulating the growth of new branches.
White Siberian Derain
This variety is otherwise called white Sibirica. It is a deciduous shrub up to 2.5 m high and with a crown diameter of up to 2 m. A distinctive feature of the variety is the bright red color of the young shoots. They may have a bloody or coral tint. Over time, the bark darkens and its color becomes brown.
The leaves are variegated, green and white, and in autumn their color can change to yellow, violet or purple. It blooms in late May or early June.The flowers are small, collected in small inflorescences.
White dogwood Argenteomarginata
White dogwood Argenteomarginata leaves are somewhat reminiscent of Siberia, but has larger bushes. Their height can exceed 3 m, the crown can reach 3 m in diameter. The shoots are smooth, straight, coral or red in color. The leaves are gray-green with an uneven white border, 3-8 cm long, ovate, pointed. In autumn their color turns purple-red.
It usually blooms twice: the first time in May, the second in September. The flowers are small, yellowish-white, collected in corymbose inflorescences 3-5 cm in diameter. The fruits are round, milky-colored drupes that acquire a bluish tint when ripe.
Deren Ivorikhalo
White dogwood IvoryHalo (Cornusalba ‘IvoryHalo’) is a low compact deciduous shrub, the height of the bush does not exceed 1.5 m. The shoots are thin, smooth, vertically growing, unbranched. The color of the bark can vary from dark red to cherry.
The leaves are medium-sized, with an uneven white border, green, pointed. The lower part of the platinum sheet is lighter. In autumn the leaves turn purple-red. The flowers are small, yellowish in color, growing in small corymbose inflorescences. The fruits are berry-shaped, not numerous, spherical, medium-sized, milky, and pale blue in color when ripe.
Derain white Cream Cracker
Cream Cracker is another variety of wood that is very popular among landscape designers around the world. It is a low, up to 1.5 m, compact bush with a loose crown. The shoots are smooth, vertical, purple-red in color.
Young leaves are green, with a white border along the edges; over time, the color of the border changes to cream.The flowers are small, cream-colored, collected in small inflorescences in the form of scutes. In their place, a few milky berry-like fruits are then formed.
White dogwood Pearl
This variety in its entirety is called Pearl of Siberia (Cornusalba ‘SiberianPearls’). This is a fairly tall (2-2.2 m) deciduous shrub with bright red shoots.
The leaves are dark green, slightly wrinkled, the lower part of the leaf blade has a bluish tint. In autumn they turn purple-red. It blooms very profusely in early June. Fragrant white flowers are collected in large convex corymbose inflorescences. Fruiting is just as abundant. The berries are numerous, milky in color, and when ripe they acquire a pinkish-bluish tint.
White dogwood Svidina
Svidina is one of the names of the white tree (Cornusalba). An adult bush of this plant usually reaches 3 m in height, and the diameter of its crown becomes the same size. This is a deciduous shrub with red shoots.
The leaves are dark green, slightly wrinkled, ovoid with a pointed end. In autumn they turn purple-red. It blooms in May, less often in June. Numerous small white flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of scutes. The fruits are milky drupes that turn bluish when ripe.
White dogwood Gouchaulti
White dogwood Gouchaultii (Cornusalba Gouchaultii) is a rather tall (3 m and above) spreading shrub of deciduous type. The shoots are dark red, smooth, thin.
The leaves of this white tree variety are green, ovoid, pointed, and have an uneven border of yellow color with a pinkish tint. White flowers, grow in corymbose inflorescences. The fruits are spherical, white or bluish.
White Derain Variegata
This variety is also called Sibirika Variegata. This is a low deciduous shrub, reaching a height of 1.5 m. Variegata differs from Sibirika in the presence of a creamy white border on dark green leaves. In autumn their color changes to purple, yellow or violet.
The shoots are long, thin, even. The bark ranges in color from coral red to dark brown. It can bloom twice during the year: the first time in May, the second time in early autumn. The flowers are whitish-cream, small, collected in a shield. The fruits are round, milky with a blue tint.
Planting and caring for white dogwood
White dogwood is an extremely unpretentious plant that does not require special care. It does not impose special requirements on soil composition, regularity of watering or disease prevention. The homeland of this plant is Siberia, so the shrub is hardy, winter-hardy and picky.
Terms and rules for planting white dogwood
For the most decorative look, it is better to choose open areas or light partial shade. This is not of decisive importance for the development of the plant, although it makes it more decorative. This shrub grows well in moist, fertile soils, but this factor can be ignored. Any area is suitable for planting: clay, rocky soil, sand - white turf will grow anywhere if a sufficient level of humidity is provided.
It is better to choose autumn or early spring for planting. If a seedling has a lump of earth on its roots, this is almost a 100% guarantee that it will take root. At this time, planting holes are prepared that are about a third larger than the volume of the seedling’s root system. If the soil is poor, before planting it is worth adding a small amount of complex mineral fertilizer or humus into the hole.
The landing procedure is not complicated. The seedling is placed vertically in the hole so that the root collar is at ground level. Then the root system is covered with soil, lightly compacted and the root zone is watered abundantly. If planting was carried out in the spring, it is better to mulch the ground around the seedling with peat, this will help retain moisture.
Watering white dera
As a rule, watering is not required for this shrub. If the planting site is chosen correctly, there will be enough soil moisture and precipitation. An exception can be made only during dry summer periods. At this time, you can water the bushes once a week at the rate of 1-2 buckets of water for each bush.
Top dressing
It is not necessary to feed the bush. Certain decorative species can be fed once a year, in the spring, by applying complex mineral fertilizer to the root zone. Peat or humus will serve as additional feeding if you mulch the root zone with it.
When to cut white dogwood
This shrub grows quickly and chaotically, so without pruning it will very soon resemble a large shapeless heap. Plants are trimmed several times a season. In the spring, sanitary cutting is carried out, removing dried or broken branches. The rest of the time, the selected crown shape is maintained, with haircuts done once every 3-4 weeks. The last time the bush is pruned is usually at the end of July or beginning of August.
The bright red stems of the plant serve as decoration for the garden in winter. Therefore, rejuvenating pruning “to the stump”, i.e. shortening white tree bushes to a height of 15–20 cm from the ground to stimulate the growth of new shoots, is done in early spring, before the beginning of the growing season.After pruning, it is necessary to sprinkle the hemp with ash to prevent infection.
Pruning and forming a white dogwood bush
Full crown formation can begin after the shrub reaches the age of 3 years. Most often, white turf is used in group planting to form hedges, so the crown is cut in accordance with the chosen style: hemisphere, rectangle, etc. Separately growing ornamental bushes are most often formed in the form of various geometric shapes. Professionals often form a bush in the form of chess pieces, animals, or a candle flame.
Preparing for winter
Due to the amazing frost resistance of most varieties of this plant, no preparation for the winter period is carried out. It is enough just to cover the bush with snow. Only young bushes of non-frost-resistant varieties are dug up and stored in the basement in winter.
Flowering white dera
The bush blooms quite beautifully. Small white or cream flowers are collected in small inflorescences - corymbs. The size of each inflorescence depends on the variety and is about 5 cm.
Derain usually blooms in May or early June, but many varieties bloom again in early autumn.
Reproduction of white dera
This ornamental shrub can be propagated by any vegetative method:
- cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush.
The seed propagation method is also acceptable, but is not used due to the long time frame. In addition, this method does not preserve the varietal characteristics of the plant.
How to propagate white dogwood by cuttings
In spring and autumn, cuttings can be harvested using strong shoots with well-developed buds. There should be 7-10 of them on each cutting. They are usually rooted in early spring.The cut is treated with a weak solution of succinic acid. Then the cuttings are planted in a container with nutrient soil and placed under a film.
If rooting has occurred, all the buds will open and new leaves will sprout. During the summer, it is necessary to periodically water and ventilate the container with cuttings, as well as feed them with a fertilizer solution or organic matter. By autumn, the seedlings will have their own developed root system and can be transplanted to a permanent location.
How to propagate by layering
Often a plant takes root in this way on its own if its growing shoots touch the ground. To obtain layering, in the spring it is enough to fix one of the flexible side stems at the surface of the ground and sprinkle it with soil. If you water the area regularly, the shoot will take root and send out a new shoot. After winter, the mother shoot can be cut off, and the cuttings can be dug up along with a lump of earth and transplanted to another place.
How to propagate by seeds
Seeds are used for propagation only of pure forms of wood, since with this method of propagation the young plant completely or partially loses all varietal characteristics. Seeds are collected in the fall from fully ripened fruits. As a rule, they have good germination. Planting is done in the fall, usually in October, directly into open ground. During the winter they will undergo a stratification procedure, harden and germinate in the spring.
Diseases and pests of white dogwood
Diseases more often affect young, fragile bushes, since adult plants have good immunity and get sick quite rarely. The greatest danger for it is powdery mildew, a fungal disease to which all garden crops are susceptible to one degree or another. The fungus begins to develop from the bottom of the plant, gradually the whole plant becomes covered with a light coating and brown spots, and then dries out and dies.
To avoid infection, do not plant plants too close to each other. Watering should be done only at the root. In autumn, the root zone must be cleared of fallen leaves, since fungal spores can overwinter in it. At the first signs of the disease, the affected areas of the crown must be cut out and burned, and the bush should be treated with a solution of laundry soap, soda ash or garlic infusion.
The most common insect pests that appear on white turf are midges, aphids and the common scale insect. To combat them, insecticides (Decis, Karbofos), as well as infusions of wormwood, celandine, tobacco or onion are used.
Conclusion
White dogwood is a universal plant that can decorate a garden or park area at any time of the year. Unpretentiousness in care, undemanding location and soil composition, plasticity of the crown and rapid growth of shoots make it an excellent tool for both novice landscape designers and real high-level artists. It is also important that seedlings of this shrub can be found not only in nurseries and stores. Derain often grows near roads and rivers, in vacant lots and abandoned areas. You just need to pay attention to it.
Be extremely careful with this tree. The horror just grows and then there is no way to get rid of it without uprooting it.