Cornus Blooming Tetra Series

Cornus capitata x kousa hybrids

There are a number of hybrids between these two species, which have occurred in different places at different times. Cornus capitata is evergreen, whilst Cornus kousa is deciduous. The hybrids between them are intermediate between their parents, so are semi-evergreen. The bracts are at their zenith a little later than those of Cornus kousa, typically peaking in July, then continuing well into August, or even September. The bracts of most cultivars in this group undergo significant colour changes, starting small and green, gradually progressing through cream to shades of pink, creating an almost bicolour effect across the tree as the flowering period moves on. They are usually prolific in their fruit production too. Outstanding autumn colour develops progressively over a much longer period of time than in a deciduous plant. Typically the leaves change from their summer green, first to orange and then through shades of gold, finally to bright butter yellow. We have 4 selections with this parentage, as described below.