Landscape Notes: Stately color in two extremes. The first is a refreshing bright green and cream, with hints of pale pink on the margins. The second is in fall when the whole plant erupts into a fabulous burgundy and hot pink duo. Even the stems are burgundy! If you’ve ever seen a tri-color beech, Sgt. Pepper™ dogwood is a lot like that, but in a much easier to use form. With its large size, it makes a great anchor for the garden. You can position it at the back of the garden to work as a foundation plant, breaking up the straight lines of a building with its rounded form. It would also make an incredible hedge or specimen plant.Top reasons to grow Sgt. Pepper dogwood:

Exposure/Culture: The best red color appears on one and two year old stems; older stems will turn corky and brown. If the stem coloring is one your favorite aspects, plan to do some rejuvenation pruning to maintain a colorful display. Every three to five years, cut out one-third of the oldest stems. Early spring is the best time to prune.If desired, apply a granular fertilizer formulated for trees and shrubs at pruning time.

Other Notes: Beautiful in mass plantings or as a specimen.