Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Cornus controversa
-
Number of Varieties
12
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-88-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
11-7
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,070.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Burgundy, Dark Blue, Black
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Burgundy, Dark Red
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering during dry weather
Average Water Needs
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Canker, Powdery mildew
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiphlogistic
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Oil used in the lubricating and soap industry
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CORNUS controversa
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
Wedding Cake Tree
Red Cardinal
In German
Hochzeitstorte Baum
Red Cardinal
In French
Gâteau de mariage Arbre
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Pastel de bodas del árbol
Cárdenas
In Greek
Γαμήλια τούρτα Δέντρο
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Árvore do bolo de casamento
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Wedding Cake Drzewo
Red Cardinal
In Latin
MUSTACEUM ligno
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Fabales
Family
Cornaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Cornus
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
Cornoideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
310
1
27800
👆🏻