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wedding cake tree

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Tracey P

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Sep 7, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/7/99
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Hi

I spotted a picture in a magazine recently of a so-called "wedding cake
tree" and I don't remember the latin name for it (I think it's "cornus
something"!). Does anyone know what I mean and can you tell me more about it
please? I wonder how big they gorw and what sort of gardens they thrive in..

thanks

tracey p

abacusnurseries.freeserve.co,uk

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Sep 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/8/99
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Have also heard Viburnum Placatum Lanarth called that, Mine is about 7 ft
tall and over 9ft wide, shame if I had to cut it back

--
David.....S.Wales
For Quality dahlias have a look at:- http://www.swig-online.co.uk/abacus/


Stephen Burley

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Sep 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/8/99
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Tracey P wrote:

> I spotted a picture in a magazine recently of a so-called "wedding cake
> tree" and I don't remember the latin name for it (I think it's "cornus
> something"!).

cornus controversia variegata (give or take a vowel here and there)

> Does anyone know what I mean and can you tell me more about it
> please? I wonder how big they gorw and what sort of gardens they thrive in..

Not cheap, about 25 quids for an 18" plant (grafted IIRC). Slow
growing.
--
Stephen Burley
s.j.b...@umist.ac.uk

Alan Gould

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Sep 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/8/99
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In article <7r423a$505$2...@nclient15-gui.server.virgin.net>, Tracey P
<tracey.p...@virgin.net> writes
>Hi

>
>I spotted a picture in a magazine recently of a so-called "wedding cake
>tree" and I don't remember the latin name for it (I think it's "cornus
>something"!). Does anyone know what I mean and can you tell me more about it

>please? I wonder how big they gorw and what sort of gardens they thrive in..

The 'Wedding Cake' tree is Cornus controversa. It gets the controversa
bit from the fact that it is one of only two Cornus (Dogwood or Cornel)
which doesn't have the leaves arranged in opposite pairs on the
branches, the other being C.alternifolia.

C. controversa will grow to 60ft. in their native China and Japan, but
in UK they will be more like 15-25 ft. at full height. Cornus are a
hardy and popular shrub and about 40 varieties are grown in UK.
--
Alan & Joan Gould, North Lincs.
<al...@agolincs.demon.co.uk>

Kay Easton

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Sep 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/8/99
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In article <7r423a$505$2...@nclient15-gui.server.virgin.net>, Tracey P
<tracey.p...@virgin.net> writes
>Hi
>
>I spotted a picture in a magazine recently of a so-called "wedding cake
>tree" and I don't remember the latin name for it (I think it's "cornus
>something"!). Does anyone know what I mean

I know what you mean, and it's on my wish list too, but I can't remember
which species it is and can't find a picture of it. Is it Cornus kousa?
It's the one that holds its branches in separated layers.


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/garden/

Alan Gabriel

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Sep 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/9/99
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Have a look at Cornus controversa `Variegata` Height and spread 15-20ft.
White flowers in broad flat clusters 2"- 3" wide in June/July, blue/black
berries in autunm. The variegated form has green and white leaves. This
might be what you are looking for.

--
Alan Gabriel
--------------------
Preserve wildlife - Pickle a squirrel
Remove hat. to reply


Tracey P <tracey.p...@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:7r423a$505$2...@nclient15-gui.server.virgin.net...


> Hi
>
> I spotted a picture in a magazine recently of a so-called "wedding cake
> tree" and I don't remember the latin name for it (I think it's "cornus

> something"!). Does anyone know what I mean and can you tell me more about
it
> please? I wonder how big they gorw and what sort of gardens they thrive
in..
>

> thanks
>
> tracey p
>
>

John Neale Baraclough

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Sep 9, 1999, 3:00:00 AM9/9/99
to
The message <37D61C39...@umist.ac.uk>
from Stephen Burley <s.j.b...@umist.ac.uk> contains these words:


> Tracey P wrote:

> > I spotted a picture in a magazine recently of a so-called "wedding cake
> > tree" and I don't remember the latin name for it (I think it's "cornus
> > something"!).

> cornus controversia variegata (give or take a vowel here and there)

> > Does anyone know what I mean and can you tell me more about it


> > please? I wonder how big they gorw and what sort of gardens they thrive in..

> Not cheap, about 25 quids for an 18" plant (grafted IIRC). Slow
> growing.

Usually expensive, I agree, but last spring someone unloaded squads
of cheaper ones on Scottish garden centres, and I got a couple at £9
each (just because it was such a bargain, why have these economical
instincts not made me very rich then).They weren't grafted.I planted
one in sheltered full shade and the other in a slightly sunnier but
more exposed spot, the first one does better and the second lost its
very early leaves to a frost but regrew them. When/if they become big
shrubs they will be magnificent, with sharply defined tiers of
foliage (like a wedding cake) beautifully variegated silver.I haven't
seen the plain green form grown large.

That earliness to leaf may prove to be bad news here in the chilly
north, normally cornus varieties are as tough as rocks.I don't think
it would appreciate a hot dry south facing place either, they are
woodland edge plants.

Without the elegant layers, cornus alba elegantissima has the same
colour variegation and is a very strong robust plant, attractive
coloured stems in winter, easily found and grown.

Janet


--
janet.a...@zetnet.co.uk

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