Cornus controversa

wedding cake tree

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Soil: deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil
• Rate of growth: slow-growing to average
• Flowering period: June
• Flower colour: white
• Other features: the fruits may cause a mild stomach ache if ingested
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Large clusters of white flowers in June, followed by spherical, blue-black fruit, and glossy, dark green leaves, turning rich red and purple in autumn. The horizontally tiered spreading branches of this deciduous dogwood provide an excellent focal-point for a medium to large-sized garden. Rounded in shape, it performs best in fertile, moisture-retentive soil in full sun.
  
  
• Garden care: Incorporate a quantity of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure in the planting hole to improve the moisture-retentive qualities of the soil. The tree requires no regular pruning, since this would interfere with its graceful, tiered habit.