This flowering dogwood is putting on a show of bloom in the Woodland Garden.
This semi-evergreen dogwood arose as a hybrid from Cornus kousa and C. capitata in the garden of Norman Hadden of Porlock, Somerset in 1958. It is a splendid small tree, producing a central boss of diminutive flowers surmounted by four large cream-white flower bracts in early summer. In autumn the alternate leaves may take on reddish hues, and it will also produce drupes (fruits) which have a strawberry-like appearance. This is an attractive specimen for moist, well-drained soils in sun or partial shade. The genus Cornus contains trees and shrubs from Asia, Europe and America. Many are noted for their ornamental value, with some producing winter flower, some, such as this, producing impressive bracted flowers, and some having coloured young stems which add valuable texture and colour to the garden in winter.