In the end I've decided the vibrant red of alba sibirica with it's strong growth and good foliage is far more beautiful than the Midwinter form which needs coddling and is wussy about being pruned so can easily get too big.
I am now layering the sibirica to make new plants for me and a couple of friends but will continue to pot up Midwinter Fire babies for the annual charity plant sale cos people still like it.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I just had to look up which variety mine was and fortunately it is Cornus Alba Sibirica. I am pleased to hear it is a good robust one. I have now found the pruning information as well.
"The varieties above should all be pruned - cut back hard - not trimmed - in early Spring rather than late winter.
I have so many newish plants I am having to make sure I know what each needs.
I bought 16 almost plug plant size ass otherwise 16 would have been expensive. Planted them 15 years ago and only pruned once when they had got very tall. I have never had a problem with them except that they layer themselves so always have plants to give away. I assume that as I can grow them easily that they love heavy and composted bark as I top up the composted bark every year. So I would say to all those having a problem to be patient. It took about 5 years for my plug plants to get to 1m tall.
Timely thread this, I've just ordered two of them Sounds they are not going to be successful. Wish I'd gone for another variety now as I was hoping to keep them small.
I left all mine behind Yvie and gave my layerings of cornus alba sibirica to Marie-Christine because there's a nursery here that stocks them. I shall be buying some for my new winter bed - much stronger in growth and fabulous bright red stems and they can take being cut back low every year to maintain size and colour.
I do like the flame effect of the Midwinter Fire but find it's a pest - either weak or too happy and suckery.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I planted 50 of these at 1m spacing back in April 2012. (Nursery closing down, very cheap) in very heavy clay soil which is usually saturated in the winter. They are now about 1.30m tall and wide; I have not pruned or coppiced them at all because I didn't think they were strong enough but they are now good healthy shrubs.
Side lit in a low winter sun they are spectacular for months on end. I think they are the most rewarding plants I have ever planted. Much better than some Sibirica and Scarlet Willow I also have for winter effect. And underplanting with snowdrops is the icing on the cake.
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Thank you Nut and Verdun.
Don't think its too dry, so will wait till later in the year.
Thanks again.
In the end I've decided the vibrant red of alba sibirica with it's strong growth and good foliage is far more beautiful than the Midwinter form which needs coddling and is wussy about being pruned so can easily get too big.
I am now layering the sibirica to make new plants for me and a couple of friends but will continue to pot up Midwinter Fire babies for the annual charity plant sale cos people still like it.
I just had to look up which variety mine was and fortunately it is Cornus Alba Sibirica. I am pleased to hear it is a good robust one. I have now found the pruning information as well.
"The varieties above should all be pruned - cut back hard - not trimmed - in early Spring rather than late winter.
I have so many newish plants I am having to make sure I know what each needs.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
I bought 16 almost plug plant size ass otherwise 16 would have been expensive. Planted them 15 years ago and only pruned once when they had got very tall. I have never had a problem with them except that they layer themselves so always have plants to give away. I assume that as I can grow them easily that they love heavy and composted bark as I top up the composted bark every year. So I would say to all those having a problem to be patient. It took about 5 years for my plug plants to get to 1m tall.
Timely thread this, I've just ordered two of them
Sounds they are not going to be successful. Wish I'd gone for another variety now as I was hoping to keep them small.
I left all mine behind Yvie and gave my layerings of cornus alba sibirica to Marie-Christine because there's a nursery here that stocks them. I shall be buying some for my new winter bed - much stronger in growth and fabulous bright red stems and they can take being cut back low every year to maintain size and colour.
I do like the flame effect of the Midwinter Fire but find it's a pest - either weak or too happy and suckery.
I swing between loving the colours and threatening them with the big shredder.
This one just earned a stay of execution. The other is on death row
In the sticks near Peterborough
I planted 50 of these at 1m spacing back in April 2012. (Nursery closing down, very cheap) in very heavy clay soil which is usually saturated in the winter. They are now about 1.30m tall and wide; I have not pruned or coppiced them at all because I didn't think they were strong enough but they are now good healthy shrubs.
Side lit in a low winter sun they are spectacular for months on end. I think they are the most rewarding plants I have ever planted. Much better than some Sibirica and Scarlet Willow I also have for winter effect. And underplanting with snowdrops is the icing on the cake.
I once bought a new variety of another much heralded plant which turned out not to be as good as it it was claimed. I can't remember what it was now.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'