Scientific Name:
Cornus controversa
Pronunciation:
KORE-nus kon-truh-VUR-suh
Common Name:
giant dogwood
Family Name:
Cornaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Tiered branching; leaves alternate (most other dogwood tree species have opposite leaves), most ovate-elliptical, 8-15cm long x 2-4cm wide; inflorescence to 18cm wide with 4 large bracts in early summer; drupes about 6mm wide, turn purple-black. Winter ID: branches horizontal, wide-spreading; terminal buds oblong 8-10mm long with about 6 pointed outer scales; lateral buds ovoid, 1-5mm longl leaf scars alternate and raised.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical, Round
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
10 - 15m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
S.E. Asia / Japan / China
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Fall interest, Shade tree, Street (boulevard tree)
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include C. 'Variegata' and C. 'June Snow'. [The variegated giant dogwood tree located at BCE is dedicated to Jack Copeland, an outstanding student who passed way just before his final exams in 2014. Jack was a one of a kind student that gave so much to the program and his fellow students, and this was his favorite tree.]
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green, C. 'Variegata' has creamy-white margins.
Colour in Fall:
Purple, Red
Shapes:
Elliptic
Apices:
Acuminate, Acute
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Entire, Sinuate
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Floriferous, Corymb-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Cruciform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Yellow (cream)
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul
Fruit Type:
Drupe
Fruit Colour:
Blue, Black
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Showy,
Bark Morphology:
Smooth, Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Stalked, Valvate
Leaf Scar Shape:
Crescent shaped
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Root rot (Deer resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend : cv. Variegata, dedicated to Jack Copeland
- (BKW) Boulevard Kwantlen Way