Cornus alba 'Kesselringii'
Kesselring Tatarian Dogwood

Cornus alba ′Kesselringii′ - Winter Habit

Family:

Cornaceae (Dogwood Family) 42

Genus:

Cornus (Dogwood) 42

Plant Type:

Shrub 491

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 226

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 809

Flowers:

Cream (Creamy-white flowers in flat-topped cymes (1.5-2" dia.) in late spring)

Foliage:

Green (Dark green summer foliage); Red-Violet (Intense reddish-purple fall foliage)

Fruit:

White (Bluish-white drupes in summer)

Ultimate Height:

6-9 feet

Ultimate Spread:

5-7 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil:

Adaptable to a variety of soil conditions, but prefers a moist, well-drained soil

Range:

Cultivated origin

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (2-4.5" long and half as wide) opposite, simple, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, usually rounded at base, dark green above and somewhat glaucous beneath. Dogwood veins sweep toward, but never contact, the leaf margin. Round fruit is bluish white and flattened slightly at each end. Stems have prominent whitish lenticels and become a deep brownish-purple in fall and winter.

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 436

Fruiting Characteristics 208

Additional Information

This cultivar is known for its deep purple twigs in winter and rich reddish-purple foliage in fall. Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color. Canker can be a problem.