Nature has generously endowed these trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials with natural beauty, and breeders, as plastic surgeons, brought some forms to perfection.
Let me remind you that the priority names of plants are given by Encyclopedia of garden plants. And if you are already cozy at the monitors of their computers, let’s go to the next virtual journey through the interesting world of charming North American dogwood.
Cornus canadensis, syn. Chamaepericlymenum canadense
Cornus canadensis, syn. Chamaepericlymenum canadense is often called dwarf. Everything in it is surprising, starting with the second name – Chamaepericlymenum canadense!
It is a creeping perennial up to 15 cm tall, growing in breadth to infinity. In nature, it is common not only from the US to Greenland, but also in North Asia. Leaves from oval to lanceolate, 2-4 cm long. In late spring – early summer it blooms; but all its beauty is not in small greenish flowers, and white or pink bracts 1-2 cm long, and then – in red fruits.
Excellent ground cover plant, the growth of which must be controlled and limited. Hardy in the middle lane; the British give him a standard winter minimum at around -15ºC.
Cornus amomum, syn. Swida amomum
Cornus amomum, syn. Swida amomum is also called silky dogwood. He comes from the East of North America.
This deciduous shrub up to 3 m and a width of about 4 m, with purple shoots. The leaves are simple, with a length of 5-12 cm Flowers in corymbose inflorescences with a width of 4-6 cm; bloom in may. Fruits – blue, almost spherical drupes with a diameter of up to 6 mm; ripen in September. In the middle band, the wave is winter – and drought-resistant.
Cornus nuttallii
Cornus nuttallii can be found under the female name of antamedia Nuttall; also called mountain, and Pacific dogwood. It grows naturally in Western North America.
It is a deciduous tree with a height of 12 m and width up to 8 m. Blooms before leaves, late April – early may for 3-4 weeks. Its beauty is in white, cream, pink bracts, 6-8 cm long.
Decorative forms:
- ‘Ascona’ – height 5 m, width 6 m; bracts white;
- ‘Colrigo Giant’ – leaves large, up to 15 cm; bracts white;
- ‘Gold Spot’ – white bracts, leaves with yellow spots.
In the middle lane with the English standard -15ºC it is relatively winter-hardy, requires wind-protected places, fertile soils, sufficient irrigation, especially in hot and dry summers. In the 2nd half of the growing season in order to have time to ripen shoots to frost, watering is reduced. North of it is grown in the tub culture.
Cornus stolonifera, syn. C. sericea
Cornus stolonifera, syn. C. sericea is a deciduous shrub height 2 m and width 4 m. he Hails from Eastern North America. Especially effective in winter, in leafless state, the bright bark of the shoots becomes a worthy ornament of the shrub.
Decorative forms:
- ‘Flaviramea’ – yellow-green shoots in winter;
- ‘Kelseyi’ – shoots red, yellow-green in winter.
Thanks to the ability of the dogwood offspring to a bright winter transformation, it is always in demand in suburban areas.
He looks spectacular in the composition with coniferous plants, where he undoubtedly belongs to the party of the first violin.
In the middle zone of winter-hardy. Drought – and shade-tolerant, quite resistant to pests and diseases. Propagated by stratified seeds, cuttings. Effective in free-growing hedges and curbs, but it is necessary to control the spread of overgrown. Joint planting of bushes with purple and Golden-yellow bark will give colorful winter compositions.
Cornus alternifolia, syn. Swida alternifolia
Cornus alternifolia, syn. Swida alternifolia called dogwood-pagoda. It is a deciduous tree, 6 m high and 6 m wide, native to the East of North America.
Especially effective in the spring, during the snow-white flowering, and autumn, in red clothes of leaves; in the summer of interest to its blue-black fruit.
Decorative form ‘Argentea’ – for gardeners-lovers of variegated wood. Undoubtedly, it is an elegant tapeworm height of 3 m and a width of 2.5 m. Leaves 8 cm long with a white border on the edge.
In the Middle lane regarding hardiness: -15ºC to give him the English, in other reference publications for his lead winter lows -17 to -30ºS.
Cornus florida
Cornus florida is the most beautiful in the group. It is a deciduous tree with a low crown; up to 6 m high and 8 m wide. it Comes from the South-East of the United States. It is one of the most luxurious trees in America, a symbol of Missouri; common in the landscaping of the Eastern and southeastern States.
The leaves are oval, spectacular red in autumn. Bracts white, turning pink before falling off. Blooms in spring, from 1-2 decades of April; at the time of flowering comes late. The fruits are small, oval, red.
Decorative forms:
- ‘Cherokee Chief’ – dark ruby-pink bracts;
- ‘Cherokee Princess’ – bracts white, 6 cm long;
- ‘Rainbow’ – very similar to the previous variety, but more compact: 3 m high and 2.5 m wide, yellow-mottled leaves;
- ‘Cloud Nine’ — bracts white, 6 cm long;
- ‘Hohman’s Gold’ – height 3 m, width 4 m; leaves with yellow border; bracts white;
- f. rubra – bracts, pink;
- ‘Spring Song’ — bracts rose;
- ‘Welchii’, syn. ‘Tricolor’ – leaves with white-pink border; bracts white;
- ‘White Cloud’ bracts white-cream, very loose.
Mind-blowing beauty demonstrates form urbiniana.
Propagated by sowing freshly harvested seeds for the winter. Tolerates shading, requires moderately moist, fertile soil with a pH below 6.8. On acidic soils, the color of bracts is brighter. It has long been grown in Central Asia. On winter hardiness is to try in the middle lane with shelter for the winter in the first years after planting.
So ended our little journey into the world of North American dogwood. Probably, some of you found your plant among them and now will realize your dream into reality.