Dogwood Midwinter Fire A small, spreading, deciduous shrub, Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire will, unusually for a dogwood, tolerate alkaline soils. It’s grown for its branching, twiggy, winter stems in shades of orange and yellow, red at the tips, looking like a bonfire in the winter garden. The oval, mid-green leaves turn orange-yellow in autumn. Inconspicuous white flowers appear in late spring. For the best stem colour, the stems of an established shrub should be cut back hard in early spring, and the shrub well manured. Beautiful in a group in a moist border. Site: Tolerates exposureSoils: Any well-drained soil, preferably moistPosition: Best in full sunSeason of interest: Particularly good in winterHardiness: Fully hardyHeight to 6’6” (2m) Spread to 6’6” (2m)