Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Flowering Plants
Origin
India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, North-Central United States, Central United States
Types
Cornus controversa
Penstemon
Number of Varieties
115
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Fields, open Woodlands, Wood Margins
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-83-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
8-1
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,070.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Burgundy, Dark Blue, Black
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Burgundy, Dark Red
Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Lance-shaped to oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Root Division, Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
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
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Complete balanced fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Canker, Powdery mildew
Leaf spot, Root rot
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
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Borders, Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiphlogistic
Tooth ache
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Root
Other Uses
Oil used in the lubricating and soap industry
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CORNUS controversa
PENSTEMON digitalis 'Husker Red'
Common Name
Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree
Husker Red Penstemon, Talus Slope Penstemon
In Hindi
Wedding Cake Tree
Talus Slope Penstemon
In German
Hochzeitstorte Baum
Gehängeschutt Penstemon
In French
Gâteau de mariage Arbre
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Spanish
Pastel de bodas del árbol
Astrágalo pendiente Penstemon
In Greek
Γαμήλια τούρτα Δέντρο
Αστράγαλος Κλίση Penstemon
In Portuguese
Árvore do bolo de casamento
Talus Penstemon Slope
In Polish
Wedding Cake Drzewo
Talus Slope Penstemon
In Latin
MUSTACEUM ligno
Talus Clivo Persicaria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Scrophulariales
Family
Cornaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Genus
Cornus
Penstemon
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Cornoideae
-
Number of Species
3280
1
27800
👆🏻