Wedding Cake Tree | Cornus contraversa 'Variegata'
Unique form and colour
Grown by Mike
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Tree in a 4.5L Pot
90-120cm on arrival
Choose your size
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Currently out of stock
Plant diary
- Flower
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Wedding Cake Tree
Cornus contraversa 'Variegata'
- The Wedding Cake Tree is so called because it grows in spreading tiers of branches that look like the layers of a wedding cake. The variegation on this one is an absolute delight - mid green leaves with broad creamy white margins that turn reddish purple for a striking autumn display
- Packed with creamy white clusters of flowers throughout May and June, this tree will really brighten up the garden. The flowers are followed by blue-black fruit for even more seasonal interest
- A hardy, robust and low maintenance deciduous tree
- Grows to just 3m tall x 3m wide, making it ideal as a focal point in a smaller garden or in a larger mixed border
- Provides all-year round interest to your garden with its unusual form and colours for each season
- Winner of the RHS Award of Garden Merit
- Our trees are professionally pruned before dispatching.
What to expect
Supplied as
Height on arrival
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Flower colour
Habit
Hardiness
Spacing
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, Wedding Cake Tree can be grown in a large pot (50cm+). It can be kept long-term with regular pruning and repotting. Ensure the soil doesn't dry out completely in temperatures above 25°C.
How big does it get?
The Wedding Cake Tree typically reaches a height of 6 to 8 metres, with a distinctively tiered spread of 6 to 8 metres, although it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning.
How much sunlight does this need?
Wedding Cake Tree prefers full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
Wedding Cake Tree prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil to thrive. Ensure the soil does not freeze below -5°C for optimal root health, applying a 5cm layer of mulch in winter.
How much watering does this plant need?
Wedding Cake Tree requires regular watering, especially during its first few years of establishment. Provide approximately 10 to 20 litres of water per week, ensuring the soil remains moist but well-drained. During hot weather above 25°C, increase watering frequency to prevent the roots from drying out.
Will this plant need pruning?
Wedding Cake Tree can be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth begins, cutting back by 10-20cm.
How hardy is this plant?
Cornus contraversa 'Variegata' holds an RHS hardiness rating of H6, making it fully hardy in the UK and able to survive temperatures down to -20°C.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Mike
Tree-growing skills honed right across the globe
Having started out in Australia, studied in Northern Ireland and volunteered at an organic farm in Sweden, it’s fair to say Mike’s done his fair share of travel on his horticultural journey, so far! Having happily laid down roots here at Roots, Mike is the don behind our tree-growing operation, imparting each and every one of his globally-honed skills to benefit your garden. Grown in our purpose-built nursery, in the ideal climatic conditions of the fertile Vale of Evesham, we’re proud to supply only the happiest, healthiest and hardiest trees.
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