Dogwood Tree, Prairie Pink Cornus florida 'Prairie Pink' Height: 15 feet Spread: 15 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 5b Description: A phenomenally beautiful small specimen tree cherished for its light pink blooms in spring and wide-spreading form; extremely fussy, requires rich, well-drained acidic soil and adequate precipitation. Needs wind protection. Ornamental Features Dogwood Tree, Prairie Pink features showy clusters of pink flowers with pink bracts held atop the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. It produces red berries from early to late fall. The warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape. Landscape Attributes Dogwood Tree, Prairie Pink is a deciduous tree with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics. Dogwood Tree, Prairie Pink is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Dogwood Tree, Prairie Pink will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.
