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I'm a sucker for coloured bark! At this time of the year, it provides colour in the garden, when there are few plants in flower. One genus of plants which provide a selection of different coloured stems is Cornus, or Dogwood. These are generally shrubby plants, whose leaves are not particularly spectacular in many cases, but they do have a variety of different coloured stems, according to the type grown. They look especially effective when different colours are grouped together in contrast to one another. Pictured are a red variety, Cornus alba, and a yellow variety, Cornus stolonifera flaviramea. The yellow stems often turn a yellowy-green in shade, and the best colour is produced when the plant is grown in full sun. |
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Other Cornus varieties with coloured bark are C. alba "Sibirica" (bright red), Cornus kesselringii (black) and Cornus "Midwinter Fire" (a lovely blend of red, pink and yellow, all on the same plant). |
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