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CORNUS
Commonly known as American boxwood, Flowering dogwood
Genus of about 60 species of mainly deciduous shrubs and small trees from grasslands, thickets, woodland, rocky slopes and swamps mainly in northern temperate areas.
Grown for their showy bracts, elegant habit, fruits and colourful autumn leaves.
The species have been used as food and medicine and in manufacture of small implements and cutting boards. The wood is beautiful, fine-grained and hard.
The "dogwood' name might have come from the "dags" (daggers, skewers and arrows) made from the slender stems. Fruits were known as "dogberries".
Two species are represented in the UK. C. mas is a widely found introduction, C sanguinea, a native, extending particularly on chalk as far north as the Midlands.
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DeciduousBroadly oval to ovate, sometimes slightly twisted, leaves to 15cm (6in) long.
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RedPinkish red -
Height6m (20ft) -
Spread8m (26ft)
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Tall ShrubOr small tree. Produces flower heads to 1.5cm (½in) across surrounded by 4 bracts, 4-5cm (1½-2in) long. Inedible red berries in loose clusters are produced in autumn
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Hardy - cold winterHardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters. May not withstand open/exposed sites or central/northern locations. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -15°C (5°F) -
Full sunShelter from cold winds -
Partial shade
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Additional Features
Pests & DiseasesAnthracnose.
Place of originEastern North America. -
HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf margin
Entire(see photos above) -
Leaf shape
Ovate
(see photos above) -
Pruning group
Pruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
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Seasonal InterestAutumnSummer
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Soil ConditionsFertile well drained soilHumus-richNeutral to acid soil
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Tree ShapeBroadly conical
- Positioning
- Planting
- Maintenance - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Propagation
- Cornus capitata seed collection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Diseases
- Cornus capitata - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus kousa 'Satomi' - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’ - Video Tip ondemand_video
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6m (20ft)
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8m (26ft) |
CORNUS florida 'Cherokee Chief'
CORNUS florida
CORNUS florida 'Rainbow'
CORNUS florida 'Red Giant'
Buy Varieties of CORNUS
CORNUS canadensis
attractive ground cover with a profusion of white flower bracts
Gift-wrapping available
COLOURED STEMMED DOGWOODS
CORNUS alba
green leaved dogwood which is happiest in wet or boggy conditions, red bark in winter
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS alba 'Aurea'
leaves greenish-yellow turning golden yellow in autumn, red stems
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS alba 'Elegantissima'
margined and mottled white
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS alba 'Kesselringii'
brownish black stems
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS alba 'Siberian Pearls'
profuse white berries tinged with blue
CORNUS alba 'Sibirica'
bright red stemmed dogwood
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS alba 'Sibirica Variegata'
silvery white edged leaves
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS alba 'Spaethii'
golden variegated foliage
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS sanguinea
greenish with red flushed stems and purple autumn colour
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'
branches orange-yellow and red in winter, an attractive new cultivar
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS stolonifera 'Flaviramea'
yellow stemmed dogwood which makes an excellent bog plant
Gift-wrapping available
FLOWERING DOGWOODS
CORNUS alternifolia 'Argentea'
one of the very best silver variegated shrubs which is sadly slow growing and difficult to propagate
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS capitata
greenish-white flowers red strawberry fruit
Gift-wrapping available
CORNUS controversa
cream flowers, black fruits and rich purple-red autumn colour
Useful extras...
