Cornus x ‘Rutgan’ – Stellar Pink® Dogwood

Botanical Name: Cornus x ‘Rutgan’

Alternate Name: Stellar Pink® Flowering Dogwood

The Stellar Pink® Dogwood (Cornus x ‘Rutgan’) is another beautiful flowering ornamental dogwood. It is a hybrid cross between Cornus florida x Cornus kousa. This prized tree is part of a series of ‘Stellar’ dogwoods released by Rutgers University and developed by Elwin R. Orton, Jr.

This small deciduous tree has a pyramidal, upright, and dense growth habit and vigorously grows to a height and width of 15-30 feet.

The Stellar Pink® Dogwood grows best in part shade, particularly during the hottest part of the afternoon, although it can tolerate full sun conditions. It makes a majestic patio, shade, or lawn tree.

The stunning show of pink flowers appears in spring after the tree has leafed out. This is typical of Korean dogwoods (Cornus kousa). The blooms occur in April or May and measure 3-5 inches in diameter. Four bracts make up the showy part of the ‘flower,’ but the true flowers are actually found clustered in the center where the bracts meet.

The leaves are elliptical to oval in shape and an attractive shade of dark green, with the typical dogwood parallel venation. The foliage turns a deep purplish-red in the fall.

Stellar Pink® Dogwood has resistance to anthracnose and dogwood borer. It doesn’t need much pruning except to remove any broken branches. However, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and canker disease. Leaf scorch can occur in hot and windy locations.