Tatarian Dogwood
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Average mature size 8-10' tall, 5-10' wide, usually stems are distinctly erect in youth, arching somewhat with age, sparsely branched, open habit. Suckers, forming large colonies. Fast growth rate. Lives 20-50 years.

Native Range

Species native Siberia to Manchuria and North Korea, introduced 1741.

Flower and Fruit Details

Perfect, yellowish-white flowers in 1.5-2.0" flat topped cymes, May-June after leaves mature. Drupe fruits, whitish-blue tinted, 0.30" diameter, in June-July.

Leaf and Bark Features

Simple leaves, arranged opposite each other in the stem, ovate to elliptic, 2-4.5" long, soft yellow-green early spring, gradually changing to glossy dark green. Reddish-purple fall color, however some plants have limited coloration. Stems are reddish green during the summer, changing to blood-red as leaves fall, creating good winter interest. This coloration is lost after several years.

Culture and Care

Fibrous rooted, easy to transplant bare rooted or containerized. Prefers moist well drained soil in sun-partial shade. To maintain red bark color, rejuvinate by pruning entire plant to 6" above ground every-other year in late winter before growth starts. Zones 3-7. Has MANY diseases including crown canker, flower and leaf blight, leaf spots, powdery mildew, twig blight, root rot and dogwood club borer.

Suggested Uses

Best in shrub border, in large masses in display areas or along roadsides. Difficult to use as a single specimen plant.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA