Create Your Garden

Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ (Wedding Cake Tree)

Wedding Cake Tree, Giant Dogwood, Variegated Giant Dogwood

AGM Award
Cornus controversa 'Variegata', Wedding Cake Tree, Giant Dogwood, Variegated Giant Dogwood, Deciduous Shrubs, Foliage, Fall color, Winter color, shrub with berries, Flowering tree, Blue fruits
Allium Mount Everest,White Allium , Ornamental Onion 'Mount Everest', Allium Stipitatum 'Mount Everest', Spring Bulbs, Spring Flowers, Late Spring Bloom, Early Summer Bloom
Cornus controversa 'Variegata'

Graceful and spectacular, Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ (Wedding Cake Tree) is a small deciduous tree with beautifully layered horizontal branches. The stems are red, and the ovate green leaves are adorned with bright creamy margins. In late spring, small, creamy-white flowers appear in flattened clusters, providing a great floral show. The blossoms give way to black berries in late summer, which persist into fall unless devoured by hungry birds. In summer, its canopy of layered branches provides shade and beauty. In the fall, it is a lovely yellow color before the leaves are shed to the ground. One of the most stunning variegated trees, this Giant Dogwood makes a wonderful focal point for a small to medium-sized garden.

  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 35-40 ft. high and across (10-12 m).
  • Performs best in full sun or part shade in acidic, organically rich, medium moisturewell-drained soils. Some afternoon shade is welcomed in hot summer areas.
  • Dogwoods are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases.
  • Great choice as a specimen or in lawns, shrub borders, or foundation plantings.
  • Propagate by grafting

Dogwood Trees: Add Vibrant Beauty to Your Landscape


Want to learn how to grow and care for a Dogwood tree like a pro? Follow these simple steps and enjoy the beauty of these charming plants.

Requirements

Hardiness 6 - 9
Heat Zones 6 - 9
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Cornaceae
Genus Cornus
Common names Dogwood
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 35' - 40' (10.7m - 12.2m)
Spread 35' - 40' (10.7m - 12.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Small Gardens
Garden Styles Traditional Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Cornus (Dogwood)
Guides with
Cornus (Dogwood)
Not sure which Cornus (Dogwood) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Cornus alternifolia Golden Shadows® (Pagoda Dogwood)
Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Flame’ (Bloodtwig Dogwood)
Cornus sanguinea Arctic Sun® (Bloodtwig Dogwood)
Cornus sericea Arctic Fire® Red (Redtwig Dogwood)
Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’ (Flowering Dogwood)
Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Sunset’ (Flowering Dogwood)

Recommended Companion Plants

Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Nora Barlow’ (Columbine)
Papaver orientale ‘Beauty of Livermere’ (Oriental Poppy)
Allium ‘Mount Everest’ (Ornamental Onion)
Hyacinthoides hispanica ‘Excelsior’ (Spanish Bluebells)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Pretty Spring Border with Allium, Poppies and Wedding Cake Tree
50 Colorado Wildflowers to Know and Love
45 Yellow Flowers: Radiant Blooms for Every Season
Small Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds
Small Trees and Shrubs That Bloom In Winter
Roots of Life: Exploring the Diverse World of Trees
35 Best Flowering Trees for a Spectacular Garden Display
Small Trees, Big Impact: Maximize Your Garden’s Potential
Spectacular Trees for Vibrant Fall Colors: A Gardener’s Guide
Pure White Flowers for a Touch of Elegance in Your Garden
24 Types of Dogwood Trees and Shrubs
Dogwood Tree Facts You May Not Know
35 Flowering Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun
40 Beautiful Native Shrubs for Shade
Flowering Dogwood – Problems and Alternatives
Cornus (Dogwood) – What Is Wrong With My Tree?
Cornus (Dogwood) – Pests and Diseases to Watch Out For
Cornus (Dogwood)
Dogwood Trees: Add Vibrant Beauty to Your Landscape
Trees with Four Seasons of Interest for Your Garden
Create a Garden with Great Winter Interest
Attractive Shrubs and Trees with White Fruits and Berries
Shrubs and Trees with Colorful and Distinctive Twigs in Winter
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 6 - 9
Heat Zones 6 - 9
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Cornaceae
Genus Cornus
Common names Dogwood
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height 35' - 40' (10.7m - 12.2m)
Spread 35' - 40' (10.7m - 12.2m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Deer
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Small Gardens
Garden Styles Traditional Garden, Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Cornus (Dogwood)
Guides with
Cornus (Dogwood)
Not sure which Cornus (Dogwood) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ (Wedding Cake Tree) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ (Wedding Cake Tree) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone