In the spotlight Common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)

Cornus sanguinea is mostly content with the chorus line, forming inconspicuous, suckering shrubbiness in hedgerows on alkaline soils. It’s also among the species of choice for quickly re-greening the stark margins of new roads, having some value as wildlife habitat and as a foraging site. In June, the tiny white flowers are dainty, but their unappealing smell means they’re better left outdoors. Yet dogwoods are capable of taking the star turn as autumn sets their foliage ablaze in salmon and ruby hues and, when winter arrives, the bare wands shimmer in crimson and scarlet; numerous cultivated varieties turn neon-bright (Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ is one of the best). Landscapers love planting them by water to invigorate the monochrome days of winter with mirrored colour.

Common dogwood was also useful for centuries; its hard wood made excellent butchers’ skewers, mill-cogs, bobbins, crucifixes and wheel spokes. One method of identifying the plant in summer is to tear a leaf gently. Thin strings of elastic tissue appear, like gossamerfine strands of melted mozzarella, holding the broken leaf together.