Description:

This prolific spring bloomer features deep pink bracts with white centers surrounding the actual flowers; a small upright tree with layered branches and a rounded form; showy red fruit in late summer; great red fall color; shows anthracnose resistance

Ornamental Features

Erica's Appalachian Sunrise Flowering Dogwood features showy bracted pink flowers with coral-pink overtones and white centers held atop the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding dark red in the fall. It produces red berries from late summer to mid fall. The warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Erica's Appalachian Sunrise Flowering Dogwood is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects
• Disease

Erica's Appalachian Sunrise Flowering Dogwood is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Erica's Appalachian Sunrise Flowering Dogwood will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. 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 selection of a native North American species.