About
Cornus florida 'Rainbow' is a compact, upright deciduous tree that reaches a height of approximately 3 meters. During April and May, it produces four-petaled flower bracts. The leaves are green, prominently marked with yellow variegation, and in the fall, they exhibit shades of red and purple.
About the genus
Cornus includes a variety of deciduous shrubs and trees, as well as prostrate, woody perennials, some featuring vibrant young stems. The small flowers appear in compact clusters, occasionally accompanied by prominent bracts. Several species display attractive foliage in the fall.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, well-drained, neutral to acid soil in sun or partial shade. Keep roots cool with a mulch in summer. Shelter in exposed locations. For more advice, see flowering dogwood cultivation
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free but can be susceptible to horse chestnut scale
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to cornus anthracnose diseases