Cornus sanguinea - Native Dogwood - 60cm-90cm

Cornus sanguinea the Common Dogwood is a highly resilient, thicket-forming deciduous shrub. As a native species across Ireland and Europe, it is a structural cornerstone of ancient lowland woodlands, limestone crags, and traditional mixed country hedgerows. In Spring and Summer, smooth, oval, rich green leaves emerge with a highly distinctive botanical trait: if you gently pull a leaf apart, a stringy, latex-like substance can often be seen stretching between the veins. True to its specific name, sanguinea meaning blood-red, the foliage undergoes a dramatic seasonal shift in October, flushing into an intense, uniform shade of burgundy, claret, and deep crimson-purple. Simultaneously, clusters of bitter, shiny, pea-sized purplish-black berries ripen.