Characteristics
The red dogwood also bears the names red bone, dogberry and red hornbeam. This is mainly due to the hard and red wood of the branches. The botanical species name is Cornus sanguinea. It can grow to heights of 4-6 meters. The growth can be described as dense, upright and bushy.
Pollination and foliage
Cornus sanguinea is monoic. It has three types of pollination: cross-pollination, self-pollination and animal pollination. The simply structured and egg-shaped leaves have a smooth leaf edge in addition to an opposing leaf arrangement. The white flowers are panicle-shaped and bloom from May to June. The red dogwood forms a white corolla.
Soil condition
Cornus sanguinea prefers calcareous and loamy soils with good permeability and a high nutrient content. However, the hardy red dogwood is extremely adaptable. Therefore, you can usually also plant other types of soil. However, in addition to soil compaction, Cornus sanguinea should not be subjected to waterlogging or dry periods.
Provenance
Cornus sanguinea can be found in Asia Minor and Central Asia as well as in the Caucasus. However, you can also find it in Europe. In the Swiss canton of Valais you can even find him at an altitude of 1,550 meters.n.
Uses
The red dogwood is rarely found in species-rich forests. Therefore, it is more suitable for a hedge planting. For example, it could be used as a bird hedge. Due to the slight toxicity of the fruits, culinary use is not recommended.