Cornus × rutgersensis ‘Rutgan’
Stellar Pink™ Flowering Dogwood is a beautiful hybrid dogwood known for its soft pink spring blooms, strong disease resistance, and easy-care nature. Developed by Rutgers University, this improved dogwood combines the elegance of traditional flowering dogwoods with enhanced durability in the landscape.
In late spring, large, flat-bracted pink flowers cover the branches, creating a striking display. Through summer, rich green foliage forms a graceful canopy before transitioning to deep red-purple fall color, adding multi-season interest to the garden.
Stellar Pink™ grows to about 20–30 feet tall and wide, forming a rounded, balanced shape that works well as a specimen tree, lawn tree, or focal point in mixed landscape plantings. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter.
This hybrid dogwood is valued for its excellent resistance to anthracnose and dogwood borer, making it a reliable choice for many landscapes. Once established, it requires little maintenance beyond occasional watering during dry periods and light pruning to remove damaged branches.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 20–30 ft. tall and wide
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil
- Spring Interest: Large soft-pink blooms
- Fall Interest: Deep red-purple foliage
- Maintenance: Low; minimal pruning required
- Benefits: Highly resistant to anthracnose and dogwood borer
Stellar Pink™ offers the classic charm of a flowering dogwood with modern improvements, making it a dependable and elegant addition to any landscape.