Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Perennial, Shrub
Origin
India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
Northwestern United States, Canada
Types
Cornus controversa
sharpleaf penstemon, white-margined beardtongue, lowland beardtongue
Number of Varieties
178
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
foothill woods, High elevation, Open areas, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-84-9
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
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15
Habit
Upright/Erect
Mat-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,070.00 cm45.72 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm40.64 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Burgundy, Dark Blue, Black
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Burgundy, Dark Red
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Narrow and lance shape
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering during dry weather
Needs less watering, Requires regular watering, Water occasionally
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
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Canker, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Asthma, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiphlogistic
Recovering internal injuries, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Oil used in the lubricating and soap industry
Container, Used as Ornamental plant, Veterinarian uses
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CORNUS controversa
PENSTEMON fruticosus 'Purple Haze'
Common Name
Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree
Bush Penstemon, Shrubby Penstemon
In Hindi
Wedding Cake Tree
Bush Penstemon
In German
Hochzeitstorte Baum
Bush Penstemon
In French
Gâteau de mariage Arbre
Bush Penstemon
In Spanish
Pastel de bodas del árbol
Bush Penstemon
In Greek
Γαμήλια τούρτα Δέντρο
Μπους Penstemon
In Portuguese
Árvore do bolo de casamento
Bush, Penstemon
In Polish
Wedding Cake Drzewo
Bush Penstemon
In Latin
MUSTACEUM ligno
Persicaria Bush
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
3250
1
27800
👆🏻