Cornus alba 'Miracle'

A true chameleon of the garden, this exceptional dogwood works hard for its place in the border by delivering a constantly changing spectacle across all four seasons.

The show begins in spring when the variegated foliage emerges with a lovely pink flush, before maturing to green leaves with crisp creamy-white margins for the summer. As temperatures drop in autumn, the entire shrub turns a fiery shade of intense purple-pink, providing a vibrant finale before the leaves fall to reveal the main event: brilliant, coral-red stems that blaze against the winter snow.

Reaching around 1.5–2m if left unpruned, it is a robust and hardy shrub that is perfectly happy in damp soil where other plants might struggle. It looks spectacular planted in groups to create a "burning bush" effect or as a standalone specimen in a mixed border.

Barnsdale tip: To guarantee the brightest and most intense winter stem colour, you need to be cruel to be kind. In late March, cut all the stems back hard to within 5–7cm (2–3 inches) of the ground. This coppicing stimulates vigorous new straight shoots that will carry the best colour next winter.

May-June flowering. Grows best in sun or partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Height & spread: 2m x 1.5cm (7' x 5').