Cornus alba 39elegantissima39 really brightens up the winter garden with vivid red bare stems that shimmer and glow during the coldest months of the year the perfect shrub to provide winter colour 39elegantissima39 is easy to maintain with cream summer flowers and large green leaves that turn an attractive shade in autumn dogwood is a resilient and trouble45free shrub for a sunny border it enjoys moist well45drained soil but can also tolerate consistently damp areas he