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Cornus Midwinter Fire, or Cornus alba Sibirica?

Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
in Plants
I'm trying to decide between the two - the plan is to buy 3 plants and have them planted in the borders as individual plants (ie not going for the 'en masse' look) amongst perennials and other shrubs.

I did previously grow Midwinter Fire in my last garden, and loved it, so I was thinking that maybe I should go for Cornus alba Sibirica as a change, as a chance to try something new. I love the idea of red stems in winter, especially as the garden I've moved to is barren and empty during this season, and red would stand out as something interesting for the eye to focus on.

But... Midwinter Fire has the flame coloured stems! They were so striking!

What is your experience of growing each of these? Which is the better plant? Midwinter Fire was a lot more 'spindly' (lots and lots of thinner side shoots) than the photos I've seen of Cornus alba, which seem to mostly be thicker stems. Is this true in real life?

For info, the soil is clay soil, and gets full sun for at least half the day (will possibly be more in mid-summer). The other definite shrubs I will have will be an Acer 'Bloodgood' (very small at the moment), Edgeworthia chrysantha (I have decided to go for it following my previous post!), and a white climbing rose. Perennials will be cottage garden-y type plants for wildlife.

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I love Sibirica, and it does not sucker, unlike Midwinter Fire.

    Acers do not really like a lot of sun, so you may wish to rethink that.
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  • shane.farrellshane.farrell Posts: 207
    I like sibirica and the green one (cannot recall name) but my favourite is alba Eligentissima. Variegated leaves and purplish red stems. I cut back last year's wood this year to leave some structure. It grows stems about five feet long in one year.
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
    Ah, good to know that the Sibirica is better behaved. Although I thankfully didn't get suckering, I did find that the roots from Midwinter Fire went quite far and wide.

    And the plan is for the acer to go slightly further along the border where it will be more in the shadow of next door's house, to save it from crisping up! The one I've chosen is supposed to be one of the ones that is happier in some sunshine, but the plan is to grow it on this year in a pot so I can find the exact best position in that border, ready for planting properly next year.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I grew both in my last garden and much prefer sibirica alba because the red is strong, the stems are stronger, they will layer readily but not sucker and they have fabulaous, strong autumn fliage colour.

    I found Midwinter Fire didn't appreciate being pruned, had thin spindly stems, and suckered all over.   Good autumn foliage colour but golden and tan rather than purple and red of the alba sibirica.
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  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Cornus Alba Baton Rouge has spectacular scarlet stems in winter, I am so pleased with mine.
  • Anna33Anna33 Posts: 316
    Three votes of confidence for the Sibirica, then - that's helped me make a decision, thank you.

    Although throwing in the new suggestion of Baton Rouge at the end, @floralies , has just given me a new dilemma!  :D Just looked it up and it does look lovely. 
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    @Anna33 mine grow in clay soil and have hot sun in the summer, neither seems to bother them, although I do water them when it's very hot. 
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    Sibirica alba gets my vote. Mine's in clay and south facing. never suckered in the decades it's been there.
    Southampton 
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