Firedance™ Dogwood

Cornus sericea Firedance ('Bailadeline'), commonly known as Firedance Dogwood, is a beautiful cultivar of a native dogwood shrub with many desirable qualities. It produces delicate clusters of white flowers in spring, which give way to white berries in the summer that attract songbirds.

The leaves turn lovely purple and red hues in the fall, and in the winter, the bare stems turn bright red, giving this shrub four seasons of interest! This shrub stays much more compact than its parent species, reaching 3 – 4 feet high and 4 - 5 feet wide. Firedance dogwood is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a rounded habit. It is quite versatile in the landscape and can be planted in moist sites, such as rain gardens, and on slopes to anchor the soil. It prefers a sunny site, but will adapt to part shade and pretty much any soil conditions, provided it gets enough water during its first growing season. It is extremely cold hardy to zone 2a and requires little maintenance, beyond an annual pruning to remove older, less vigorous branches. Plant several of them as a privacy screen or hedge, or use them in containers for a cheerful display on a balcony or adorning an entryway. Firedance™ Dogwood Care For best flowering and stem color, plant this dogwood in full to part sun with at least six hours of direct sunlight. Firedance is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions, and once established, it will tolerate drought and some standing water. Water it regularly and deeply during the first growing season to help it settle in, and at least once a week thereafter. Apply a 3-inch layer of compost around the root zone to reduce moisture evaporation. Note that this shrub is tolerant of urban pollution. New stems have the brightest color in winter. To keep your shrub healthy and vigorous, prune out the oldest, thickest canes after blooming in the spring. Always cut damaged or dead stems to the ground. Cut some of the red stems in the fall to use in cheerful Holiday arrangements.

Firedance™ Dogwood Spacing Space Firedance dogwoods 4 – 5 feet apart to accommodate their mature size. For planting a hedge, you can space them slightly closer, 3 feet apart between plant centers.