Cornus alba Aurea
€45.00
Description
Bright, cheerful and full of contrast, Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ is a wonderful shrub for bringing light into the garden. Its glowing golden-yellow foliage creates a fresh, uplifting feel through the growing season, while its vivid red stems step forward beautifully in winter, offering colour when the garden needs it most.
This is a plant that works hard across the seasons. It adds softness and brightness in spring and summer, then becomes a real feature in autumn and winter, making it especially valuable in borders, wildlife-friendly gardens and planting schemes designed for year-round interest.
Why we love it
Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ has that rare ability to feel both lively and dependable. The golden leaves brighten darker corners and pair beautifully with deeper greens, purples and silvery foliage, while the winter stems bring a welcome burst of warmth and structure.
Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ has that rare ability to feel both lively and dependable. The golden leaves brighten darker corners and pair beautifully with deeper greens, purples and silvery foliage, while the winter stems bring a welcome burst of warmth and structure.
Appearance
This deciduous shrub has a bushy, spreading habit with soft golden foliage that holds its colour beautifully through the season. In late spring to early summer, it may produce small creamy-white flowers, followed by pale berries later in the year. As the leaves fall, the bright red stems are revealed, becoming one of its loveliest features through winter.
This deciduous shrub has a bushy, spreading habit with soft golden foliage that holds its colour beautifully through the season. In late spring to early summer, it may produce small creamy-white flowers, followed by pale berries later in the year. As the leaves fall, the bright red stems are revealed, becoming one of its loveliest features through winter.
Best for
- Mixed shrub borders
- Winter interest planting
- Wildlife-friendly gardens
- Informal screening
- Colour contrast in larger beds and borders
Position
Best planted in full sun or partial shade. A sunnier position will usually help bring out the strongest stem colour, while partial shade can suit it well in softer planting schemes.
Best planted in full sun or partial shade. A sunnier position will usually help bring out the strongest stem colour, while partial shade can suit it well in softer planting schemes.
Soil
It grows happily in most fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soils. It’s a hardy and adaptable shrub once established.
It grows happily in most fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soils. It’s a hardy and adaptable shrub once established.
Growth habit
Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ forms a medium-sized deciduous shrub with a rounded, gently spreading shape. It’s ideal for giving body to a border and works especially well when planted in groups or repeated through a scheme.
Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ forms a medium-sized deciduous shrub with a rounded, gently spreading shape. It’s ideal for giving body to a border and works especially well when planted in groups or repeated through a scheme.
Seasonal interest
- Spring: fresh golden foliage emerges
- Summer: bright leaves, small white flowers
- Autumn: soft seasonal colour and berries
- Winter: vivid red stems provide standout structure and colour
Caragh’s Garden Notebook
A lovely way to brighten a border
Use this shrub to lift darker planting combinations or to bring warmth to green-heavy spaces.
Use this shrub to lift darker planting combinations or to bring warmth to green-heavy spaces.
Especially valuable in winter
When many plants retreat, the red stems of Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ really come into their own.
When many plants retreat, the red stems of Cornus alba ‘Aurea’ really come into their own.
Pruning tip
For the brightest winter stems, cut back a portion of the older stems in early spring. This encourages fresh young growth, which carries the best colour.
For the brightest winter stems, cut back a portion of the older stems in early spring. This encourages fresh young growth, which carries the best colour.
Planting idea
It looks especially lovely paired with ornamental grasses, evergreen structure and shrubs with deep green or burgundy foliage.
It looks especially lovely paired with ornamental grasses, evergreen structure and shrubs with deep green or burgundy foliage.
Additional information
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