Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood

Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood (Cornus x 'KV10-105v1')

Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood is a colorful hybrid dogwood valued for its soft pink spring blooms, bright variegated foliage, and improved landscape performance. Its green leaves are edged and marbled with irregular white margins, giving the tree season-long contrast after the flower display has finished. In spring, pink-bracted flowers bring the familiar beauty of Stellar Pink Dogwood with the added interest of variegated foliage. With its manageable size, upright branching, and refined ornamental character, Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood is well suited for front yards, entry gardens, mixed borders, and specimen plantings.

Distinctive Features

Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood produces pink-bracted flowers in spring, followed by striking foliage with green interiors and irregular white margins. The variegation gives the tree a bright, layered look through the growing season and can make shaded or partially shaded planting areas feel lighter. In fall, the foliage can develop a colorful mix of scarlet, pink, orange, red, and purple tones, creating one of its strongest seasonal displays. As a variegated sport of Stellar Pink Dogwood, it shares the refined hybrid dogwood character of its parent while often growing somewhat slower than the green-leaved form.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Grows best in full sun to partial shade, with afternoon shade helpful in hot or exposed locations to protect the variegated foliage.
• Soil: Prefers fertile, acidic, well-drained soil with good organic matter and steady root-zone moisture.
• Water: Performs best with consistent moisture during establishment and should be kept moist but not soggy during heat or drought.
• USDA Zones: Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically reaches about 20 to 24 feet tall and wide with age, though growth may be slower than non-variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood.
• Habit: Forms a vigorous small deciduous ornamental tree with dense, upright branching and a rounded to broadly spreading canopy at maturity.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a colorful focal point in front yards, entry gardens, courtyards, or open lawn areas where its pink flowers and variegated foliage can stand out.
• Specimen Tree: Plant as a standalone ornamental tree where its spring blooms, variegated leaves, fall color, and refined branching can be appreciated across the seasons.
• Mixed Border: Add to large shrub and perennial borders for height, spring color, summer foliage contrast, and vivid fall interest.
• Woodland Edge: Use along lightly shaded woodland margins where it can receive filtered light, steady moisture, and protection from harsh afternoon sun.
• Foundation Planting: Plant near larger homes or broad foundation beds where a small ornamental tree can brighten the planting and soften architecture.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply during the first few seasons and during dry periods to keep the root zone evenly moist without creating saturated soil.
• Mulching: Apply a broad mulch ring to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce competition from turfgrass.
• Pruning: Prune lightly during dormancy or after flowering to remove dead, damaged, crossing, crowded, or reverted branches while preserving the natural form.
• Fertilizing: Fertilize only when needed based on soil conditions, avoiding excessive nitrogen that can push weak or overly soft growth.
• Deer Protection: Protect young trees from browsing and trunk rubbing in landscapes with moderate to heavy deer pressure.
• Site Care: Provide good air circulation, avoid planting too deeply, and keep mulch pulled away from the trunk to support long-term health.

Why Choose Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood?

• Variegated Foliage: Displays green leaves with irregular white margins for bright color and contrast beyond the bloom season.
• Pink Spring Flowers: Produces pink-bracted spring blooms that bring soft seasonal color to the landscape.
• Vivid Fall Color: Offers a colorful autumn display with shades that may include scarlet, pink, orange, red, and purple.
• Hybrid Dogwood Performance: Shares the refined ornamental character and improved disease resistance associated with Rutgers hybrid dogwoods.
• Manageable Size: Fits residential landscapes where a smaller flowering tree is more practical than a large shade tree.

Variegated Stellar Pink Dogwood is an excellent choice for gardeners who want the beauty of a pink-flowering dogwood with added foliage color and season-long interest. Its variegated leaves, soft spring flowers, vivid fall display, and graceful small-tree form make it a polished ornamental tree for well-designed residential landscapes.