hybrid white flowering dogwood
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
This unusual hybrid is a cross between our native Western dogwood, Cornus nuttallii, and the Eastern North American species, Cornus florida. The large flowers open in early spring and have broad overlapping bracts (false petals) that are gleaming white and abundant. The tree has a narrow frame and distinctive lax layered branching habit that works well in the garden and shows the blooms to their best advantage. It has shown resistance to dogwood anthracnose, a common foliage disease. It is a selection made near Vancouver, British Columbia.
Plant Type: tree
Growth Habit: narrow
Foliage Type: deciduous
Plant Height (10-year): 20 ft. 0 in. (6.10 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 15 ft. 0 in. (4.57 meters)
Plant Height-Mature: 35 ft. 0 in. (10.67 meters)
Plant Width-Mature: 20 ft. 0 in. (6.10 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 to 9
Flower Color: white
Flowering Time: spring
Sun/Light Exposure: full sun or light to open shade
Water Requirements: occasional watering
Seasonal Interest: spring flowers and autumn foliage color
Wildlife Associations: bees, butterflies
Great Plant Combinations:
Great Color Contrasts: burgundy, purple, red
Great Color Partners: cream, pink
This unique tree prefers a rich well-drained or sandy soil, but will tolerate clay if the drainage is adequate. Provide a location with full sun to light or open shade. In too much shade or areas without good air circulation foliage disease can be a problem. Once established it only needs occasional watering during dry weather. Little pruning is needed and can ruin the lovely layered branching pattern. Consult an expert pruner or take local classes before attempting to prune. Dogwoods are slow to establish and often take two to three years to fully recover from planting.
Originated by British Columbia nurseryman and rosarian Henry Matheson Eddie (1881-1953) in 1945. United States Plant Patent #2413 bestowed in 1964. Awarded an Award of Merit 1972, a First Class Certificate in 1977, and an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Dr. Gerald Straley ("Trees of Vancouver" 1992) noted that the original crosses were done during the late 1930's and 1940's. "The crosses involved both white and pink Eastern Dogwood (Cornus florida) and our native Western Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii). Most of the seedlings were lost to a flood in 1947 in the Fraser Valley, but one of the best seedlings had been moved to Richmond and this is the one from which all of the 'Eddie's White Wonder' have been propagated.
Text and photos ©2020 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden