Cornus ‘Rutgan’ Stellar Pink

STELLAR PINK is a hybrid dogwood (Cornus florida x Cornus kousa) that was developed by Elwin R. Orton, Jr. as part of the Stellar series of dogwoods released by Rutgers University. It is noted for its vigorous habit, large-bracted flowers, profuse bloom and resistance to anthracnose and dogwood borer. It is a small deciduous tree with a dense, upright habit. It has a uniform width from top to bottom, typically maturing to 15-20? tall and as wide. Flowers bloom in spring. The true dogwood flowers are actually tiny, yellowish green and insignificant, being compacted into button-like clusters. However, each flower cluster is surrounded by four showy, petal-like, pink bracts which open flat, giving the appearance of a single, large, 3-5? diameter, 4-petaled, pink flower. Floral bracts on this cultivar are rounded and overlapping. Oval to elliptic, dark green leaves (4-6? long) turn attractive shades of purple-red in fall. STELLAR PINK is sterile and does not produce fruit.