Cornus consist of over 30 different species, some of them are shrubs with coloured stems that add colour to the winter garden, others such as the flowering varieties from North America, China or Japan are very showy with their coloured bracts, growing up to 15m (49ft), both types can also have variegated leaves.
Soil requirements vary with the different varieties also, the shrub types are happy on many soil types except for shallow chalk, the flowering types generally need a good deep loam, neutral to acidic soils. (See also Hedging section)
Cornus alba Sibirica(Westonbirt Dogwood)
Selected form of cornus alba with a bright red bark, will grow well on most soils even very wet ones, but not for shallow chalk. Shows off best if cut back in late spring.
Ultimate height 2m (6ft), Spread 2m (6ft)
Cornus Ascona
An attractive unusual green-pink tinged flowers, made up of four large distinct bracts. A large shrub with pendulous spreading branches, it has a double period of interest with flowers in early summer and fantastic vivid red autumn foliage colour. Suitable for neutral to acidic soils.
Ultimate height 5m (16ft), Spread 6m (19ft).
Cornus capitata
A spreading evergreen bush with grey-green leaves up to 12cm long. In summer green true flower clusters, 1.5cm across are formed surrounded by sulphur-white bracts 4-5cm long, followed by pendent strawberry red fruit. Best planted on leafy loam with partial shade.
Ultimate height 12m (40ft), Spread 12m (40ft)
Cornus Chinensis (Chinese Flowering Dogwood)
This is a really stunning shrub or tree, with two main seasons of interest. Broadly conical in shape, it produces tiny green flowers in June, which are surrounded by showy, creamy-white, petal-like bracts, that fade to lovely shades of pink as they age. In autumn the dark green leaves turn crimson-purple, and mature trees produce strawberry-like fruits. It’s an excellent specimen tree for a small garden or woodland edge, and the leaf colour is best in fertile, well-drained, neutral to acid soil.
Ultimate height 7m (22ft), Spread 5m (16ft)
Cornus controversa Variegata (Wedding Cake Tree)
Majestic medium sized tree, striking white and green variegated foliage. Branches grow in tiers like a wedding cake. Grows best on moist deep soil.
Ultimate height 8m (24ft), Spread 4m (12ft)
Cornus Eddie’s White Wonder
This shrub or tree has two seasons of interest, that really earns it’s place in the garden. In May, it has showy, white flower bracts, in autumn the mid-green leaves turn brilliant shades of orange, red and purple. This broadly conical dogwood is an excellent specimen tree for small gardens. It performs best in a sunny site with fertile, moisture-retentive soil.
Ultimate height 6m (19ft), Spread 5m (16ft)
Cornus kousa Beni fuji
A compact, spreading and slow growing deciduous bush with ovate mid-green leaves turning red and purple in autumn. Small green flower heads surrounded by four prominent, dark pink bracts in early summer followed by strawberry like red fruit in autumn. Best on neutral to acid soil and partial shade
Ultimate height 3m (10ft), Spread 3m (10ft)
Cornus kousa China Girl
This lovely small garden tree produces a mass of creamy yellow tinted bracts in June, making this a later flowering tree than Cornus florida. The oval foliage is dark-green, turning striking shades of orange and red in the autumn. Small pink fruits that have a similar appearance to strawberries also adorn the branches in the autumn.
Ultimate height 4m (13ft), Spread 3m (10ft).
Cornus kousa Milky Way
This is a real showstopper of a tree, with two main seasons of interest. Broadly conical in shape, it produces tiny green flowers in June, which are surrounded by showy, creamy-white, petal-like bracts, that fade to lovely shades of pink as they age. In autumn the dark green leaves turn crimson-purple, and mature trees produce strawberry-like fruits. It’s an excellent specimen tree for a small garden or woodland edge, and the leaf colour is best in fertile, well-drained, neutral to acid soil.
Ultimate height 7m (2ft), Spread 5m (16ft).
Cornus kousa Tsukubanomine
A fairly new introduction of white dogwood. Upright growth habit with thin branches, small leaves with pink tinge. Flowering in late June with bracts being long and thin up to 0.9 to 1.2cm and diameter of 6-7cm, flowers developing a pink tinge as they age.
Ultimate height 4m (13ft), Spread 3m (10ft).
Cornus mas Golden Glory (Cornelian Cherry)
A vigorous, upright form. Dense clusters of bright yellow flowers on bare stems in February. Large bright red fruits. Leaves turn reddish purple in autumn. Well drained soil. Sun or part shade.
Ultimate height 4m (13ft), Spread 3m (10ft).
Cornus Norman Haddon
A cross between Cornus kousa and Capitata, this beautiful selection has masses of large, creamy-white bracts in mid-summer, turing pink just before they fall, in good summers they will be followed by typical red fruit. Unlike other Cornus listed here nutalli is semi-evergreen in mild winters.
Ultimate height 5m (16ft), Spread 5m (16ft).
Cornus sericea Flaviraemea (see Hedging)
Planting Guide
For further details and pricing, please download our .PDF catalogue using the link below:-
Landford Catalogue 2019.pdf (.PDF file, 259 KB)