Little Ruby™ Dogwood Cornus 'NCCH1' PP26,542
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus
- Description
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This is a unique dogwood with a compact form and semi-evergreen foliage that sports a red flush on young leaves followed by dark maroon fall color. It also has pink flower bracts that range from single to double. Developed as a collaborative project by NC State University and Star Roses & Plants Nursery with support from the Kenan Institute and the NC Biotechnology Center. It grows best in partial shade but can tolerate full sun and can be trained as a large shrub or small tree. Hardy to zone 6, in the south it is almost an evergreen tree. It has moderate drought tolerance once established.
Flowering dogwood usually overlaps that of redbud trees, creating a beautiful spring display on the edge of forests. Dogwoods are an indicator of rich soil, as its fallen leaves decompose rapidly, improving the soil.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Fruit: Fall-Winter, Drupes
Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: When stressed, 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. Leaf miner and scale are less serious potential insect pests.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Common name of dogwood is a probable reference to an old-time use of hard slender stems from this tree for making skewers once known as dags or dogs. Native Americans used the root bark to counteract poisons and as a general tonic, flowers were infused to reduce fever, and compound infusions of several plant parts were used as blood purifiers.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Bright red fruits are an important fall and winter food for song & forest-edge birds and squirrels. Other plant parts are consumed by black bear, beaver, deer and skunk. Provides shelter and habitat for many wildlife species. Members of the genus Cornus support the following specialized bees: Andrena (Gonandrena) fragilis, Andrena (Gonandrena) integra, and Andrena (Gonandrena) platyparia.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Extremely heat tolerant and disease resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-trunked
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Red drupes develop by late summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- True dogwood flowers are tiny, yellowish-green, button-like clusters (inflorescences) in the center of showy, petal-like bracts. Little Ruby’s bracts are an incredible pink that range from single (4) to often more bracts.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Semi-evergreen foliage starts off with deep red-flushed new leaves, followed by bright green mature leaves with contrasting maroon veins, and finishing with stunning dark maroon fall color. Leaves are opposite and simple; veins follow the elliptic curve of the leaf (arcuate). Burgandy purple fall coloring.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- New stems are rich red
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Drought
- Heat