Grown primarily for stunning winter color, Arctic Fire® Cornus also provides interest through the growing season. Small and fragrant white flowers appear in late spring, attracting butterflies to the garden. Clusters of white to blue-tinged fruits follow blossoms and attract foraging birds. Arctic Fire® is gorgeous massed against white-barked trees or in open areas where the red twigs shine against snow banks in the winter sunlight. In areas lacking regular snow cover, plant against a backdrop of evergreen foliage for contrast. Young stems display the best red color. Maintain colorful shrubs by removing one-third of the oldest stems each year in early spring. Older stems will have corky bark and a brownish coloration. Plants thrive in average to moist soils and tolerate bog-like conditions and clay soils. Plants do not spread by stolon like other dogwoods.