hybrid between Cornus kousa chinensis and Cornus nutallii. A large flowered Cornus with flowers that can reach a diameter of over 15 cm. Flowers open in april-mai
AKA 'KN30-8', Venus is the trademark name of this tree from the Elwin Orton/ Rutgers breeding program. I believe a hybrid between the two species was back-crossed with an unrelated C. kousa to produce what may turn out to be a great plant. Interesting that the original cross produced seedlings that were not sterile, as seems to be the case with C. kousa x C. florida hybrids.
"Many different plants of C. kousa were hybridized with plants of C. nuttalli in 1973. A limited number of seeds were produced and they germinated in the spring of 1974. Most of the seedlings flowered after seven to nine years, and in 1983, a superior F1 seedling selection was hybridized with a plant of C. kousa Rosea. Subsequently, the best among the progeny from this cross was propagated and plants distributed to cooperators in New Jersey, Tennessee and Oregon for intensive evaluation. A plant patent is pending under the cultivar name KN30-8 and the plants will be marketed under the trademark Venus." http://agproducts.rutgers.edu/venus.html
This selection appears to be a winner for my area - so far, a much more "stellar" performer here than the other Rutgers hybrids I've tried. Large blooms, somewhat like C. nuttallii 'Colrigo Giant'.
Hello Gordo, How is your Cornus x 'Venus' looking now? How tall & wide has it become over the last 10 years? Have you trimmed it? What aspect and soil is it growing in? Rutgers' site mentions good drought tolerance. Would you know of examples in the lower mainland or similar zones that may be subject to drier conditions? If so, how are they fairing?
