Why plant a dogwood in your garden?

Dogwood is a shrub in the Cornaceae family. Sometimes called hornberry, it owes its name to its wood, which is hard like horn. In fact, it was used in ancient times to make throwing weapons. Well established in the northern hemisphere, it is appreciated by gardeners for its magnificent flowering in late spring turning from red to pink to white.

Animal-friendly dogwood

Hedgehogs appreciate quiet areas of a garden, especially hedgerows. Various shrubs such as elderberry or dogwood are perfect for providing shelter for these gardener's companions. They will do you many favours by crunching the slugs and snails that threaten your salad greens. What's more, its berries, which fall late, provide food for birds over the winter, especially those of the blood dogwood. This beautiful berry bush brings life to your garden.

Therapeutic benefits

Legend has it that the fairy Morgana made powerful love potions from the sap of the shrub. Medicinal plant specialists recommend dogwood bud macera for its cardiovascular virtues as well as its blood-thinning action.

His little-known berries

While redcurrants, raspberries and bilberries are the queens that adorn our best pies, the dogwood is often overlooked. Yet the berries of the male dogwood are worth rediscovering. Rich in vitamin C, they are one of the tastiest wild fruits. They ripen at the end of September. Bright red, they can be eaten raw, in jam or pie. They taste similar to raspberries or cherries. Well-known in the Near East and Eastern Europe, the cornucopia remains too discreet in France.

The simple beauty of the shrub

There are around fifty species of dogwood: white, blood, male... While some do not exceed two metres, others can easily reach seven metres, providing delightful shade during the hot season. This is the case with the male dogwood, whose yellow flowers appear at the end of winter, turning into delicious dogwoods at the end of summer.

Planting a dogwood

Sowing schedules recommend planting with the winter frosts, taking care that it is exposed to sun or part-shade. It prefers acidic, low-limestone, well-drained soil. Simply place the young plant in a hole about fifty centimetres deep and fifty centimetres wide. The main precaution is to ensure that the collar is not underground. The soil should then be well compacted and watered generously. Pruning should be carried out at the end of winter each year. The shrub is resistant to most diseases and easy to grow.