CORNUS x rutgersensis ‘Celestial Shadow’

Description

The Plant

CORNUS x rutgersensis ‘Celestial Shadow’, also known as flowering dogwood or Rutgers dogwood, stands out with its very bright foliage, green edged quite broadly with a very vivid yellow. Typically, such coloration can only be found in Florida flowering dogwoods.

Moreover, in spring, it develops a multitude of immaculate white flowers that further enhance the spectacle. They will later take on pink hues. Then, these flowers will transform into quite remarkable and decorative red fruits.

It is a hybrid between CORNUS kousa and CORNUS florida, which makes it more cold-resistant than the latter.

Furthermore, the foliage of this marvelous plant takes on delightful purplish-pink hues in autumn.

You can view all our CORNUS variants available actually for sale by clicking here.

How to plant and care for CORNUS x rutgersensis ‘Celestial Shadow’?

Planting

To maximize your chances, consider the following points:

1. Plant this flowering dogwood in full sun or partial shade. The longer it receives direct sunlight, the more it will bloom.
2. Find it a cool to moist or moderately moist location.
3. The soil should be light or normal with an acidic or neutral pH.

For proper preparation of the planting hole, we have designed specific instructions available here.

Care

CORNUS x rutgersensis ‘Celestial Shadow’ does not require special care. However, ensure regular watering during the first two years, especially during dry periods, until the plant is well established. Furthermore, discover here how to water your garden and save water.

If you need to prune this plant, do so in January or February before new growth begins.

History and Origine

As mentioned earlier, the CORNUS x rutgersensis were obtained by crossing CORNUS kousa and CORNUS florida, resulting from the work of Dr. Elwin R. Orton Jr. at Rutgers University in the United States. Indeed, his work aimed at creating dogwoods that were more resistant to anthracnose and insects.

Sometimes, this plant is also found under the simpler name of CORNUS ‘Celestial Shadow’.

In summary, the CORNUS x rutgersensis ‘Celestial Shadow’ is a plant with multiple advantages: Its green foliage variegated with bright yellow, its white flowers that transform into red fruits, and the autumnal coloration of its leaves make it an excellent choice for any garden.