Group/Class:  Rutgers Stellar Series

Description:

An impressive new hybrid which features snowy white blooms in spring on a distinctly low and horizontally wide-spreading shrub, resistant to disease and insects; very fussy, requires rich, well-drained acidic soil, best in a sheltered location

Ornamental Features

Stardust Flowering Dogwood is draped in stunning clusters of white flowers with white bracts held atop the branches in mid spring. It features an abundance of magnificent crimson berries from early to mid fall. It has dark green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. The peeling gray bark and antique red branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Stardust Flowering Dogwood is a dense 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. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Stardust Flowering Dogwood is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Stardust Flowering Dogwood will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate 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 somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, 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 particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.