The carpet dogwood, also known as Canadian carpet dogwood (Cornus canadensis) due to its origin, although not a shrub or small tree, is a horn shrub. The flat, creeping dwarf shrub, which grows to a maximum height of 20 centimetres, is suitable as ground cover for large and small areas, but can also be cultivated in tubs or balcony boxes.
The Canadian carpet dogwood is a delicate flowering groundcover
Hardy and flowering dwarf shrub
The carpet dogwood, which is (still) rarely found in our latitudes but is very robust and hardy, looks exceptionally pretty. The plant is evergreen, with the foliage often turning reddish-orange in the cold season. The four white petals on a greenish head appear in the months of May to June, and by autumn they have developed into red, very attractive ornamental berries. However, these are not suitable for human consumption. Cornus canadensis spreads very quickly via root suckers.
Caring for and planting carpet dogwoods properly
In nature, the carpet dogwood prefers to grow in sparse mixed and coniferous forests with slightly acidic, moist soil. With us you can cultivate the ground cover both as an underplant for trees, but also to border or border beds and as a container plant.
Carpet dogwood also tolerates shady locations
Although the carpet dogwood prefers bright locations, it also feels very comfortable in partially shaded to shady places - provided the soil is moist enough. Due to the slightly acidic soil, the plant is particularly suitable for planting in heather or ericaceous gardens, because Cornus canadensis loves slightly acidic, moist and humus-rich substrate. In principle, however, the ground cover grows on all soils, provided they do not contain lime - the plant does not tolerate calcareous soil at all.
Do not remove foliage
Further care instructions are not to be observed for the carpet dogwood, except for the following instructions:
- If it is hot and dry, the carpet dogwood should be watered. The plant has a high moisture requirement.
- This rule applies in particular to potted plants, which naturally cannot provide themselves with the precious water.
- Mulching can also be useful.
- Basically, the carpet dogwood is winter green, but only in mild winters.
- Furthermore, you should not remove the leaves of the carpet dogwood, because valuable humus is formed from them.
tips
You need between six and eight plants per square meter of soil to be planted. Before planting, the soil should be loosened well and upgraded with compost.