Cornus x 'Rutdan' Celestial® (Hybrid Flowering Dogwood)

Cornus x Celestial® (also called Cornus x 'Rutdan') is part of the hybrid dogwood series from Rutgers University's dogwood breeding program, cultivated to be more resistant to common dogwood pests and diseases such as dogwood borer, dogwood anthracnose, and powdery mildew. Combining the gorgeous appearance of flowering dogwood (C. florida) with the hardiness of kousa dogwood (C. kousa), the Celestial® cultivar is named for the profuse blooms of the tree's white-bracted, 'stellar' visual appeal in the spring landscape; these large bracts give the plant its namesake 'flowering' appearance. In addition to its flowers and disease resistance, Cornus x Celestial® is noted for its attractive, wine-red and purple fall foliage, which adds a ton of multi-season interest.

'Rutdan' Celestial® dogwood prefers well-drained, medium-moisture soil in full sun to partial shade, especially in areas protected from strong winds and intense summer heat. Growing to a mature size of 15-20' tall and about 10-15' wide, Celestial® is an excellent early spring bloomer, especially for more compact areas than other dogwoods might allow, providing a lot of appeal to early season pollinators and works beautifully as a centerpiece tree or forest understory planting. As a bonus, Cornus x 'Rutdan' is a sterile hybrid, and produces no fruit to drop and stain sidewalks or patios, making it ideal as a street tree, though this quality decreases its attractiveness to birds. Cornus x Celestial® makes an excellent pick for specimen planting or as the focal point of a larger pollinator garden, and will prove especially hardy where common flowering dogwoods may falter.