Family
Cornaceae
Botanical Name
CORNUS nuttallii 'Colrigo Giant'
Plant Common Name
Mountain Dogwood, Nuttall's Dogwood, Pacific Dogwood
General Description
The enormous ivory flowers of 'Colrigo Giant' are absolutely spectacular and the fall color no less alluring when the leaves turn resplendent shades of red and yellow. Few trees can match the beauty of a mountain dogwood in full bloom. Snowy flowers perch on the spring branches of this medium-sized deciduous tree like butterflies. Native from California up to British Columbia, this understory beauty thrives beneath the canopies of much larger trees, such as coast redwood and Douglas fir.
The tiered, horizontal branches of mountain dogwood bear large, rounded blooms in spring, each comprising four to seven large, oval bracts surrounding a cluster of small, yellowish flowers. The ivory bracts sometimes age to light pink. Plants may rebloom sparsely in late-summer. In fall, bright orange fruits develop that are relished by birds. Fall leaf color can be quite striking turning russeted shades of yellow, red and orange.
Mountain dogwood prefers partial shade and well-drained, humus-rich soil with a slightly acid pH. It does poorly in the eastern United States because it requires relatively dry summers. This tree is highly susceptible to the common fungal disease dogwood anthracnose, which has decimated wild populations and garden specimens alike leading to its scarcity in nurseries. Cornus nuttallii hybrids, such as Cornus Venus®, have better disease resistance.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 8
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Sunset Zone
3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
20'-40' / 6.1m - 12.2m
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Width
15'-25' / 4.6m - 7.6m
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Late Summer
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Native To
Northwestern United States, California, Canada
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Green, Ivory
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Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Fruit Color
Orange
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Fruit Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Red
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Bark Color
Brown, Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
