Cornus nuttallii 'North Star'

RHS Plant Profile

mountain dogwood 'North Star'

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Trees

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A vigorous tree up to 7.5m in height with upward branches ascending. Purple new shoots emerge into larger leaves which are simple, opposite, ovate and dark-green, changing to deep red in autumn. Large star-shaped flowers, of mostly six barely overlapping, ruffle-veined, white bracts, up to 15cm in diameter, surround a prominent greenish- yellow centre. These are followed by a small number of slightly fleshy red berries per flower, with blue-black tips.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cornaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Cornus can be deciduous shrubs or trees, or creeping, woody-based perennials, some with brightly coloured young stems. Tiny flowers are borne in dense clusters, sometimes with showy bracts. Many have fine autumn colour
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained neutral to acid soil in sun or part shade. For more advice, see flowering dogwood cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by stratified seed and sow in spring or graft budding. Semi-hardwood cuttings can succeed, but these produce poorer plants.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to horse chestnut scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to cornus anthracnose and powdery mildews