Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
North America, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Types
Cornus controversa
Ilex glabra, Ilex crenata, Ilex verticillata
Number of Varieties
13
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Coastal Regions, Lowland, Mountains, Subtropical climates, Suburban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-85-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,070.00 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Burgundy, Dark Blue, Black
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Burgundy, Dark Red
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering during dry weather
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Canker, Powdery mildew
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiphlogistic
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Oil used in the lubricating and soap industry
Can be made into a herbal tea
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CORNUS controversa
ILEX glabra
Common Name
Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree
American Pokeweed, Inkberry, Silberstein American Pokeweed
In Hindi
Wedding Cake Tree
Inkberry
In German
Hochzeitstorte Baum
Inkberry
In French
Gâteau de mariage Arbre
Inkberry
In Spanish
Pastel de bodas del árbol
Inkberry
In Greek
Γαμήλια τούρτα Δέντρο
Inkberry
In Portuguese
Árvore do bolo de casamento
Inkberry
In Polish
Wedding Cake Drzewo
inkberry
In Latin
MUSTACEUM ligno
Inkberry
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Cornales
Aquifoliales
Family
Cornaceae
Phytolaccaceae
Genus
Cornus
Ilex
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Cornoideae
-
Number of Species
3600
1
27800
👆🏻