Leaves & needles
Opposite oval leaves with smooth edges and veins curving towards the tip.
UK nativeDeciduousTypical height 2–5 m
Common dogwood
Cornus sanguinea
A native shrub, occasionally a small tree, with curved leaf veins and reddish young stems in winter.
THROUGH THE YEAR
Common dogwood through the seasons
A spreading shrub with small cream flower clusters and dark berries.
Leaves turn crimson before revealing the coloured stems.
Young red shoots provide the clearest seasonal clue.
Typical open-grown form. Leaf fall varies with weather and location; young or clipped trees may retain dead leaves. Pruned, sheltered and young trees can look different.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
How to identify common dogwood
Bark
Smooth grey bark, developing shallow ridges on older stems.
Twigs
Slender, smooth shoots, red on the sunny side and greener in shade.
Buds
Small, narrow dark buds in opposite pairs, appearing almost bristle-like.
Flowers & pollen
Small creamy-white, four-petalled flowers form flat-topped clusters.
Fruit, seeds & cones
Small black berry-like fruits form in clusters, each containing a stone.
Typical flowering: May, Jun. Weather and location change timing.
Images show typical features and are not to scale. Confirm several features using the reference sources below.
CARE WITH PURPOSE
Caring for common dogwood
Help it thrive
Adaptable, including to damp and lime-rich soils. Sun produces stronger stem colour; keep newly planted shrubs watered.
Pruning advice
For winter stem colour, renew selected older stems in early spring. Frequent hard renewal reduces flowering and berries; natural shrubs need less work.
When can it be pruned?
March–April for stem renewal
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Highlighted months are an indicative window for the work described, not a reason to prune every year. An unshaded month is not an absolute ban.
Timing must suit the tree's health, weather, wildlife and legal protection. Avoid severe frost, drought and vulnerable new leaf growth. Mature trees, major branches and suspected defects need professional assessment.
Tree health: what to watch for
Identification & care references
Guide researched November 2026. Identification remains provisional until several features agree. UK native means native in some part of the UK, not necessarily your area.
Before work in England, check tree preservation orders, conservation-area restrictions and wildlife protection. Official tree protection guidance ↗