Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) - Native Wildlife Shrub (Potted - 2 Litre)

Dogwood is a quietly powerful native shrub - one that works hard for wildlife across the seasons while asking very little in return.

In late spring and early summer, Cornus sanguinea produces flat clusters of creamy white flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen, attracting bees, hoverflies and beetles. The foliage supports moth caterpillars, and as the year turns, the shrub comes into its own again - producing dark berries taken by birds and mammals.

As autumn arrives, Dogwood’s leaves flush deep red and purple, and its stems take on rich wine-coloured tones, adding structure and interest at a time when many plants fade. Dense growth provides shelter and nesting opportunities, while leaf litter feeds soil life below.

Supplied in a 2L pot, grown peat-free and without pesticides, this native Dogwood is ideal for hedges, boundaries and wildlife-focused planting where year-round value matters more than showy flowers.

Why Dogwood matters

Dogwood supports wildlife in multiple ways:

• nectar and pollen for insects
• larval food for moth caterpillars
• berries for birds in autumn
• dense cover for nesting and shelter
• winter structure and colour in wild plantings

It’s a connector plant - linking hedges, margins and woodland edges into functional wildlife corridors.

Where to plant

Dogwood is adaptable and resilient.

It thrives in:
• sun or partial shade
• most soil types, including heavier soils
• hedgerows, boundaries and wild margins
• larger gardens and naturalistic planting schemes

It responds well to occasional pruning if needed, but also looks best when allowed to develop a natural shape.