Ashburton
Cornus are one of the most beautiful small trees for any garden, and they can be used for a shade tree or just a specimen.
Make space for cornus, says Alan Trott.
If you are planting only a few, I would suggest you only plant selected grafted forms as these have been proven over years, while seedlings can be variable.
Cornus thrive in rich loam and like being mulched with compost or straw, especially when they are young. They have a fibrous root system which is near the top of the soil, and keeping them damp over hot summers helps them produce buds for the spring. Cornus thrive in cool climates but seem to struggle in warm humid climates, so if you have cool conditions, they are a must for your garden.
Cornus controversa can be green leaved or variegated.
It’s the ‘Variegata’ form, often called the wedding cake tree, that’s prized for a special spot. The layered branches need to be controlled every year to maintain its shape (if possible, make sure you have a good central leader at all times). This form has dark green leaves edged a creamy white. The newer cultivar ‘Golden Wedding’ has green leaves edged gold and is best in a little afternoon shade against a dark background to showcase it. Both these trees need space as they can become wide.
If you have a smaller spot to fill, Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’ has smaller delicate branches and variegated leaves.
My favourite dogwood is Cornus florida ‘Daybreak’.
In spring, the white bracts emerge followed by variegated leaves. Within a few weeks the leaves have a hint of pink and as the season progresses they end up with pink tones which turn red in autumn. This cultivar is vase-shaped and makes a small tree over time.
Cornus florida var. rubra ‘Cherokee Chief’ has amazing dark pink bracts and performs its display every October. It is not a large grower but grows as wide as it does high.
Cornus florida ’Purple Glory’ has deep pink bracts followed by purple leaves which retains its purple tones over summer and can be a focal point in the garden. This cultivar is often admired in the garden, and though it has never been readily available, is worth trying to find at your local nursery. Cornus florida x nuttallii ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ can make quite a statement in early spring with huge, white bracts. This upright grower later spreads a little with a pendulous habit. In autumn, the leaves turn a deep red. This cultivar has been around for years and is a proven winner.
If you want a softer pink and bigger bract, try Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’.
This cultivar has a spreading habit and flowers a little later. If you plant this small tree to shade some dwarf pink rhododendrons, the effect can be quite stunning.
Cornus kousa ‘Southern Cross’ is a New Zealand-raised cultivar and is one that produces a large number of pure white bracts in semi-arching branches. When it blooms, it always attracts comments. In autumn the leaves turn blood red with tones of purple.
Cornus kousa ‘Elizabeth Lustgarten’ is a weeping form. When it was young,
I had to keep taking the leader up on a tall stake. Do this while the whips are supple enough to bend – if you leave it to winter to take the leader up, the branches are brittle and tend to break. It has beautiful white bracts and when they age they turn pinkish tones.
If you have a small block of land, try Cornus kousa ‘China Girl’ or Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’ as an avenue instead of Prunus (flowering cherries). These vase-shaped dogwoods look spectacular when in bloom and the other added advantage is that they flower for many weeks.
Cornus capitata has dark green leaves all year.
Its glory is in late spring when the bracts appear – a creamy colour which fade to lime green and lemon tones. In autumn, fruit-like strawberry-red berries appear which the birds devour when ripe. This tree is well worth planting if you are wanting to screen something off. A grafted form called ‘Akatere’ is available and this cultivar has bigger bracts than usual.
As your Prunus need replacing in the garden, why not plant magnificent Cornus trees which offer spring colour and in autumn fire up with tones of reds and oranges over many weeks.