Scientific Name:
Cornus
x
rutgersensis
'Rutcan'
Pronunciation:
KORE-nus ex root-jerr-SENSE-iss
Common Name:
Constellation dogwood
Family Name:
Cornaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Mature habit with low, tiered horizontal branching; new growth reddish; leaves ovate, most blades 5-11cm long x 3-7cm wide, lower surface slightly pubescent; 4 floral bracts, most obovate, 4-6cm long x 4-5cm wide, non- overlapping; fruit absent. Winter ID: swooping branches with dark red-purple pubescent twigs, leaf scars opposite, shelf-like (perpendicular to stem), lateral buds minute, terminal leaf buds tear drop shaped, inflorescence buds dome-shaped with many floret bud bumps, surrounded by 4 triangular pubescent bracts about 4mm long.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
5 - 7m
Mature Spread:
4 - 5m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Garden origin (C. florida x C. kousa)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Fall interest, Small garden/space, Specimen plant, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green, reddish new growth
Colour in Fall:
Purple, Dark-red
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate, Caudate
Bases:
Rounded
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Spike, Corymb-like, Head-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Cruciform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Additional Info:
4 large white rounded bracts per inflorescence
Fruit Type:
Aborted (hybrids) or absent
Fruit Colour:
Fruiting Time:
Bark or Stem Colour:
Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Stalked, Valvate
Leaf Scar Shape:
Crescent shaped
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant)
Specific Pests:
(Resistant to dogwood borer), (Resistant to anthracnose)
