Cornus florida 'Rainbow'Flowering dogwood

It has relatively compact growth, upright at first and progressively broader, with elegant branching that can take on an almost horizontal arrangement. It forms a dense crown, rounded to slightly flattened, generally reaching between 3 and 5 metres in height and a similar spread, depending on growing conditions and the form in which it is trained.

The foliage is the main distinguishing feature of this cultivar. The green leaves have irregular creamy-yellow margins, creating a luminous effect throughout the growing season. Some young leaves may show pinkish tones, while in autumn the variegation turns into an intense combination of red, pink and purple.

In spring, the small clustered flowers are surrounded by four large white bracts, slightly overlapping, which are spread along the branching. After flowering, red fruits may appear, adding a new element of colour and ornamental interest to the crown.

It prefers fertile soils, rich in organic matter, moist and well drained, with an acidic to neutral reaction. It grows in sun or partial shade, benefiting, in the hottest regions, from protection against intense afternoon sun and from some moisture kept around the roots. It is particularly suited to small gardens, courtyards, entrances, ornamental beds and compositions of naturalistic inspiration.

Mature specimens from Diaplant already have a well-defined branched structure and enough foliage to bring out the contrast of the variegation in full. The size already reached makes it possible to bring in at once a luminous focal point, with spring flowering and a particularly expressive autumn transformation.