Attacks by louse borers and anthracnose disease on native flowering cornel tree across the eastern United States led plant breeders at Rutgers University to make a tree diagram springy to both . The Aurora dogwood ( Cornus " Rutban " ) bears very large snowy bract in mid - spring , after flowering dogwood but just before kousa cornel bloom . maturate this deciduous tree diagram in U.S. Department of Agriculture winter hardiness geographical zone 6 through 9 .
Origins
In the 1980s , Dr. Elwin Orton of Rutgers University in New Jersey cross native flowering cornel ( Cornus florida ) with the Japanese or kousa dogwood ( Cornus kousa ) . The seedling carry suitable traits of both parents and were take for their flower colour or other characteristics and grouped into the Rutgers Stellar Series . The seedling with cultivar name ' Rutban ' was read and given the U.S. plant patent # 7205 and trademark name of Aurora .
Description
The Aurora dogwood tree is a deciduous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with an upright and pyramid - like flesh and dense , diffuse arm . When vernal , it has a vase - like pattern . Aurora dogwood grows to a matured size of 25 feet marvelous and as wide . In early spring , its green oval leaves egress and by mid - spring , the tiny bunch of yellow - green flowers are surrounded by large , showy white bracts . Each " blossom " be four overlapping bract . The tree is heavily festooned with the bloom , relieve oneself it look as though it is covered with large snow . In autumn , the leaves become attractive dark glasses of burgundy , Orange River and red before fall off . On old Tree the bark exfoliates .
Features
Aurora dogwood is immune to plague by insect woodborer and the foliage fungal disease anthracnose . The blossom are uninventive and will not cede seeds . now and then , some flowers make grow incomplete yield that tend to abort . The Aurora tolerates more direct sunshine than the flower dogwood , but count better when given light shade , unlike its sun - loving parent the kousa dogwood tree .
Growing Requirements
Aurora cornel should be planted in a fertile , moist but well - debilitate stain that is acid to slightly alkaline in pH ( 5.0 to 8.0 ) . It looks best when locate in a partially sunny location , receiving between six and nine hours of verbatim sun ray of light day by day , with some shadowiness in the summer midday hr . Watering the tree during ironic atmospheric condition periods is necessary , as it is not tolerant of wry soil , specially when temperature are hot .
Legal Warning
This intercrossed tree is protected by the U.S. Patent Act and can not be reproduced except by the original breeder or those authorized by the bearer of the plant patent . Only if and after the letters patent expires can others lawfully propagate the industrial plant .
References
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