Stellar Pink Dogwood (Cornus x rutgersensis 'Stellar Pink')

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Stellar Pink Dogwood

Cornus rutgersensis ‘Stellar Pink’

A vigorous, disease-resistant hybrid dogwood with profuse, soft pink blooms and no messy fruit.

$469.00

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

Cornus x rutgersensis 'Stellar Pink' is a celebrated hybrid dogwood from the renowned Rutgers University Stellar series, prized for its vigorous growth, profuse blush-pink blooms, and excellent disease resistance . This small, deciduous tree features a dense, upright habit with a uniform width and elegant, horizontal branching . In late spring, the branches are smothered in large, overlapping, petal-like bracts of soft shell pink to medium pink, arranged around a small, greenish-yellow flower cluster . The dark green, oval foliage provides a lush canopy through summer before turning attractive shades of purple-red in the fall . As a sterile hybrid, it produces no messy fruit, making it an exceptionally clean and low-maintenance landscape specimen .

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Foliage & Flowers: Glossy, dark green, oval leaves (4-6 inches), turning purple-red in fall; profuse, overlapping, petal-like pink bracts (3-5 inches across) in late spring; sterile, no fruit .
Mature Height: 15-20 ft (can reach up to 23 ft) .
Mature Spread: 15-20 ft (can reach up to 18 ft) .
Growth Rate: Vigorous .
Hardiness Zones: USDA 5-8 (cold hardy to Zone 6A) .
Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade (benefits from afternoon shade) .
Core Benefits: Profuse pink spring blooms, excellent disease resistance (anthracnose, powdery mildew, borer), sterile (no fruit), attractive fall color, vigorous, compact habit.
Best Uses: Specimen tree, small gardens, woodland gardens, foundation plantings, near patios, lawns, mixed borders.

Q: What makes 'Stellar Pink' different from other dogwoods?
A: It is a hybrid of our native flowering dogwood (C. florida) and the kousa dogwood (C. kousa) . This cross gives it the best qualities of both: the large, showy flowers of the native, with the excellent disease resistance (anthracnose, powdery mildew, borer) and sterile, fruitless habit of the kousa .

Q: How large does it get?
A: It is a moderately sized tree with a dense, upright habit. At maturity (around 20 years), it typically reaches 15-20 feet in height and spread, though some sources indicate it can grow slightly larger .

Q: Does it produce fruit?
A: No, 'Stellar Pink' is a sterile hybrid and does not produce the messy, berry-like fruits common to other dogwoods . This makes it an exceptionally clean tree for patios and walkways.

Q: How resistant is it to disease?
A: It has high resistance to the most serious dogwood diseases, including dogwood anthracnose and powdery mildew, and is also resistant to the dogwood borer . This makes it a much more reliable and longer-lived choice than many other dogwoods.

Q: How much sun does it need?
A: It performs best in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, protection from harsh afternoon sun is beneficial to prevent leaf scorch and keep the tree looking its best .