Cornus nuttalii Eddies White Wonder - Flowering Dogwood

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' is one of the most spectacular flowering dogwood varieties in spring due to its remarkable white bracts that resemble large immaculate flowers. Wonderful in spring, it is also beautiful in autumn with its scarlet and purple-toned foliage. This large bush or small non-calcareous tree is remarkably floriferous and perfectly hardy. It makes a beautiful standalone subject, in a small garden, or combined in a larger setting such as an informal hedge or a shrub grove.

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder' is a horticultural hybrid variety obtained in Canada resulting from a cross between Cornus florida, a large bush native to regions in northeastern North America, and C. nuttallii, native to the western United States. All these plants belong to the Cornaceae family.

'Eddie's White Wonder' reaches a height of about 6m (19ft 8in) and a width of 5m (16ft 5in) in our climate. Its habit is rather broad-conical, formed by a crown of lateral branches growing horizontally from the single, often twisted trunk. From May in our cool regions, sometimes earlier in mild climates, clusters of small moss green flowers with yellow tips measuring 0.5 to 2cm (0.2 to 0.8in) long are formed, just before the appearance of leaves or simultaneously. They are gathered in clusters (glomerules) and are surrounded by 4 bracts reaching 6cm (2.4 in), resembling petals, of pure white colour. This flowering, more abundant if temperatures are high in summer, is followed in September-October by the formation of scattered, red, inedible fruits measuring 1cm (0.4in) in diameter. The deciduous foliage is composed of medium green leaves, which take on magnificent autumn colours. The leaves measure from 10 to 15cm (3.9 to 5.9in) long and are wide, ovate, and pointed. They are often twisted or curled. The bark of young twigs and branches is greenish, tinged with red on their sun-exposed side. With age, it becomes grey and cracks.

The flowering dogwood is a very hardy species (-20°C (-4 °F)) that is better suited to humid climates, which, however, experience quite hot summers. It is interesting as a standalone in small gardens, but is also suitable for flower beds and free hedges. It can be combined with other early-flowering shrubs (Hamamelis, Magnolia stellata), fragrant and perpetual lilacs from the Bloomerang series, or mock oranges. In a heather earth bed, it is a perfect companion for deciduous rhododendrons and azaleas.

Advice: The shallow root system of this dogwood remains just below the surface of the soil, making it sensitive to soil hardening and compaction, flooding, and blows from shovels or machinery. It is therefore advisable to regularly apply organic mulch around the base of this bush and avoid any planting at its base.