Cornus controversa 'Variegata'

Variegated Giant Dogwood features showy clusters of white flowers with white bracts held atop the branches in early summer. It has attractive white-variegated dark green foliage. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. It produces navy blue berries from early to late fall. The warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Variegated Giant Dogwood will grow to be about 50 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 25 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.