Hybrid Flowering Dogwood                KOR-nus FLOR-i-da   KOR-nus KOO-sa

Below are brief descriptions of each of the six hybrids of C. florida × C. kousa  (Cornus × rutgersensis) developed by Elwin R. Orton Jr. and released by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

• Cornus Ruth Ellen^® P.P. 7732  (‘Rutlan’):   Low and spreading, not upright as a young C. kousa.  Brilliant white, showy floral bracts.  Original plant at 19 years old, 18 ft tall x 22 ft wide, densely branched to the ground.  Susceptible to powdery mildew.
• Cornus Stardust^® P.P. 7206 (‘Rutfan’):   Low, horizontal form of C. florida, much smaller than Ruth Ellen^®,   Heavily branched to the ground.  White floral bracts are ovate with an acute point, they do not overlap.  At 19 years old, 11 ft tall x 14 ft wide.  Susceptible to powdery mildew.
• Cornus Constellation^® P.P. 7210 (‘Rutcan’):  Has an erect habit and more vigorous than C. kousa, it is low branching and uniformly wide from base to top.  White floral bracts are obovate with an acute tip, they do not overlap.  Original plant at 19 years old, 21 ft tall x 17 ft wide.  Susceptible to powdery mildew.
• Cornus Celestial^® P.P. 7204 (‘Rutdan’):   Is vigorous, erect, and uniformly wide.  The expanded floral bracts are white with a tinge of green.  They are obovate to nearly rounded with an acute tip and broadly tapered base.  Original plant at 19 years old, 17 ft tall x 14 ft wide.  Highly resistant to powdery mildew.
• Cornus Aurora^® P.P. 7205 (‘Rutban’):   Is vigorous, erect, low branching, and uniformly wide.  It flowers heavily; its white floral bracts becoming creamy white as they age.  Original plant at 19 years old, 18 ft tall and wide.  Highly resistant to powdery mildew.
• Cornus Stellar Pink^® P.P. 7207 (‘Rutgan’):   Is vigorous, erect, low branching, and uniformly wide.  Its floral bracts are a soft pink, rounded and overlapping.  From a distance the bracts are less showy than a C. florida clone with dark red bracts.  Original plant at 19 years old, 20 ft tall x 19 ft wide.  Highly resistant to powdery mildew.