Cornus controversa

Cornus controversa
C. controversa 'Variegata' in the National Botanic Garden of Belgium
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Cornaceae
Genus:	Cornus
Subgenus:	Cornus subg. Mesomora
Species:	C. controversa
Binomial name
Cornus controversa Hemsl.
Synonyms[2]
Bothrocaryum controversum (Hemsl.) Pojark. Swida controversa (Hemsl.) Soják Cornus brachypoda var. variegata G.Paul Cornus controversa var. alpina Wangerin Cornus controversa var. angustifolia Wangerin Cornus controversa var. shikokumontana Hiyama Cornus controversa var. variegata (G.Paul) Bean Cornus controversa f. variegata (G.Paul) Rehder Cornus macrophylla f. variegata (G.Paul) Schelle Cornus macrophylla var. variegata (G.Paul) G.Nicholson Cornus obovata Thunb. Swida controversa var. alpina (Wangerin) H.Hara ex Noshiro Swida controversa var. shikokumontana (Hiyama) H.Hara ex Noshiro

Cornus controversa (wedding cake tree), syn. Swida controversa, is a species of flowering plant in the dogwood family Cornaceae.^[2][3] It is native to China, Korea, the Himalayas and Japan. It is a deciduous tree growing to 50 ft (15 m), with multiple tiered branches. Flat panicles of white flowers (cymes to 3–7 in (8–18 cm) wide) appear in summer, followed by globose black fruit (drupes to 1⁄2 in (13 mm)). Ovate dark green leaves (3–6 in (8–15 cm) long) are glaucous underneath and turn red-purple in autumn. It is cultivated in gardens and parks in temperate regions.^[4][5][6]

It is also sometimes referred to as Bothrocaryum controversum (Hemsl.) Pojark when seeds are offered for online sale.^[7]

The variety C. controversa 'Variegata' has leaves with cream margins, which turn yellow in autumn, and grows to a lesser size than its parent – typically 25 ft (8 m). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[8]

Gallery

• 
  Cornus controversa, Kew Gardens, London
• 
  Cornus controversa in May, Frankfurt
• 
  Fruit (drupes), Cambridge University Botanic Garden
• 
  C. controversa 'Variegata', Moorbad Park, Germany

References

1. Ye, J.; Qin, h.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Cornus controversa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T130048041A147625740. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
2. "Cornus controversa Hemsl". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
3. "Cornus controversa Hemsl". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
4. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
5. "Cornus controversa". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
6. "Dogwood Cornus controversa". Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Archived from the original on 2013-03-12.
7. "Heirloom 50 Bothrocaryum controversum (Hemsl.) Pojark. Tree Shrubs Herb Seeds". Amazon. ASIN B074WB498W. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
8. "Cornus controversa 'Variegata' (v)". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2018-08-17.