Cornus alba Nightfall - White Dogwood

The Cornus alba 'Nightfall' is a superb variety of bush that will appeal to gardeners looking for a colourful ornamental bush, interesting throughout the year. Its particularly dark leaves, transitioning from green in spring to a almost black purple in autumn, make it a centerpiece of the garden. Its red stems, highly visible in winter, bring brightness to hedges or beds at that time of year. Very hardy, undemanding, it finds its place in many gardens, but also in containers.

The Cornus alba Nightfall 'VERPAALEN3' belongs to the cornaceae family, like all dogwoods. This cultivar, developed in the Netherlands by Boomkwekerij Verpaalen, is known for its unique foliage. The species is native to Siberia, where it is found on the banks of the Amur River, as well as in Russia and Manchuria, in humid deciduous and coniferous forests. It is a bush that always grows near waterways, under harsh and contrasting climates that demonstrate its robustness. In spring, the leaves of 'Nightfall' appear dark green, then turn to an almost black purple in autumn. They measure about 6 to 12 cm in length and have a velvety texture, especially on the underside of the leaves, which is covered with a fine grayish film. In winter, the bare stems turn a bright red, stunning in snowy landscapes or the winter garden. The bush reaches about 1.5 m in height and width, with an upright habit and relatively fast growth. The flowering, discreet, consists of small cream-white flowers in May-June. This is followed by small white berries that sometimes persist until autumn. The Cornus alba 'Nightfall' is also distinguished by its high cold resistance (down to -30°C) and its ability to adapt to various soil types, provided they are well-drained.

Plant this dogwood 'Nightfall' in a low hedge, in a shrub bed, or as a standalone specimen in a perennial border. It combines beautifully with other shrubs with colourful foliage like the Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' for its purple leaves, or the Japanese Spirea 'Crispa' which blooms pink in summer and colours in autumn. For an even more pronounced winter effect, it can be paired with dwarf conifers such as the Picea glauca 'Conica' or with ground cover evergreen shrubs like the Euonymus fortunei 'Silverstone'. The 'Flaviramea' dogwood, with its yellow stems, also creates a superb contrast in winter.