Giant Dogwood Cornus controversa
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus kon-troh-VER-suh
- Description
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This plant is a medium to a tall ornamental flowering tree that enjoys the sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. The growth rate is moderate to rapid. Its form is picturesque and wide-spreading: this plant has horizontal branches that appear to be "layered".
Attractive to Birds, Pollinators, Butterflies, with showy flowers and fruit.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Bloom: Summer, early Fruit: Summer-Fall, red berries
Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: Leaf miner and scale are less serious potential insect pests. When stressed, this plant is susceptible to a large number of disease problems, most serious is dogwood anthracnose. Other diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot, and leaf & twig blight. It can also become vulnerable to borers.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'June Snow'
- 'Shikokumontana aka Hemsl.'
- 'Variegata'
- 'June Snow'
- 'June Snow', 'Shikokumontana aka Hemsl.', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'June Snow'
- 'Shikokumontana aka Hemsl.'
- 'Variegata'
- 'June Snow'
- 'June Snow', 'Shikokumontana aka Hemsl.', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- controversa
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Korea, Japan
- Distribution:
- Zones 5-8 across the United States
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are attractive to birds, and plants provide nesting sites. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 35 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has 0.25 in. reddish to purple to blue-black fruit (berries). Fruits are attractive to birds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Small, creamy-white flowers appear in flattened clusters (cymes to 3-7” wide) in late spring (May-June). Although individual flowers are small, a tree in full bloom is quite showy.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has 3-6 in. alternate, simple leaves that may develop a purple fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
