The Tatarian or red-stemmed dogwood hales from Siberia and northern Korea. It is a suckering shrub that may form wide colonies and is valued in the garden for its stunning red stems in winter. In late May it will produce small yellowish-white flowers held in flattened clusters which mature into insignificant white fruits. In the spring the smooth stems are green, turning red in the winter. The oldest stems should be removed as the younger ones provide the best color. It is best used in massed plantings for winter visual interest.

Members of the genus Cornus, commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multi-season interest -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species.

Dogwoods are native to cooler temperate areas of North America and Asia. The genus includes 45-60 species, divided into subgenera about which taxonomists disagree. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes almost 100 varieties of dogwood from 20 species (7 of which are native) and over 2,400 plants.