Plant of the week: Cornus Alba

Of all the winter-stem dogwoods, Cornus alba shines out for its reliability, easy-going nature and sheer brilliant vibrancy. Prune the whole shrub hardback in March and it responds by sending up a thicket of young shoots covered in brightly-coloured bark, revealed in its full glory after the leaves fall at the start of winter. They look particularly gorgeous when placed so low winter sun can reach them when they seem to glow in the gentle winter light. Choose from scarlet ‘Sibirica’, golden ‘Aurea’ or ‘Kesselringii’ in striking purple-black for colour as eye-catching as any flower through the coldest months of the year.