Cornus x ‘Ruth Ellen’

Ruth Ellen Flowering Dogwood

Zone 5–8. Exceptionally heavy white flower production of wide bracts, tree is wider than tall.

This dogwood belongs to the Stellar Series, the result of the hybidization work of Dr. Elwin Orton at Rutgers University (Rutgers Hybrid Dogwoods). They represent crosses between Cornus florida and Cornus kousa and to date show significant promise in resisting borers and Discula, the incitant of dogwood anthracnose. The floral display period of duration is similar to Cornus florida (two weeks) and bloom after the foliage like Cornus kousa. However, the bloom dates occur between the parent species. These new trees represent an exciting new period for dogwood culture as we continue to suffer the negative effects of borers and disease with the older C. florida cultivars. Additionally, they provide for better floral display than many of the existing C. florida and C. kousa chinensis cultivars. Experience with these plants is limited as it takes decades to fully understand the pluses and minuses of new introductions, but all available information to date suggests that they will have a long and important place in the horticultural world. From our limited experience, you should expect to see habits and mature sizes in the range of the Cornus kousa species plant. They are somewhat more aggressive growers than either of the parents.