When to Prune Red‑Twig Dogwoods for Bright Winter Color

Red‑twig dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’) and red osier dogwood (C. stolonifera) are grown for vivid red stems, not their small white flowers. Prune in late winter/early spring while dormant. First remove dead/damaged stems. Then cut out ~⅓ of the oldest stems annually—new shoots will have brighter red winter color. Alternatively, coppice (cut to ground) yearly for a more compact plant. They can reach 10′×10′ if unpruned.