‘Midwinter Fire Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a multi-season deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. It is an upright, round-topped, spreading, twiggy, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-15 feet tall and as wide. It is native to northern Europe and northwestern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8).

‘Midwinter Fire’ is for its colorful stems and twigs in winter. It grows to 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide over 8 years. The outstanding ornamental features of this cultivar include: (1) coral winter stems which are tipped with red twigs and (2) greenish yellow fall foliage color. Broadly elliptic to ovate, medium green leaves (to 3″ long). Creamy-white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters (cymes) in late spring followed by clusters of dark purple drupe fruits in late summer. While the fruits are not showy, numerous fruit feeding birds and other wildlife drop by. In my opinion autumnal leaf color is a subpar greenish-yellow in most years.

Midwinter Fire dogwood is very easy to establish in moist well-drained soil of average fertility and in full sun to part shade. It tolerates wet periods but not standing water. Appreciates some shade or filtered sun during the afternoon in hot and humid regions of the U.S. Very low maintenance when left alone along with no serious insect or disease problems.

Although pruning is not necessary, many folks opt to remove about 25 percent of the oldest stems in late winter or early spring of each year to encourage growth of new stems which will display the brightest red color the next winter season. Alternatively, every 2 to 3 years all stems can be cut back to 8 inches above the ground for total renewal.

Availability at full-time garden centers is usually plentiful. Midwinter Fire dogwood is also available through online nurseries from late winter through late summer.