Sacha wrote:
On 22/7/08 15:04, in article , "Emery
Davis" wrote:

Sacha wrote:
It's taken longer to build than Rome but it's out the

www.hillhousenursery.com

Congratulations Sacha (and family).

Question about the Wedding Cake tree. I list this in my plant list as
Cornus controversa 'Variegata',
as does the old RHS reference I have. You list it as C. alternifolia
'Variegata', under the Pagoda Dogwood
rather than the Giant Dogwood.

I have a C. alternifolia 'Winter Orange' that was sold to me under the
name C. controversa, then the nursery
changed the name in their catalog to go along with the prevailing usage.

I wonder if the Wedding Cake tree has gone through a similar
reclassification, and I should maybe change
it in my garden records... I also grow C. alternifolia 'Argentia'
(which is slower growing than controversa),
but it is clearly a different (and finer leaved) plant. But both lovely
in their own way.

cheers,

-E

We've seen both called the wedding cake tree so it's anyone's guess which is
truly which. We're certainly open to correction!

Verified that at least to the RHS Horticultural Database, C. controversa
'Variegata'
(which it looks to me is what you've got, although hard to be sure from
the pic) is
called the Wedding Cake Tree. This would also explain the faster than
expected
growth.

For C. alternifolia 'Variegata' they list this as synonymous with
'Argentea', with
a common name of "Silver Pagoda Dogwood." I think this finer leaved
(and slower
growing, reputed difficult although I've had no problems) plant is not
what you've
got in the picture.

Just one opinion, worth no more or less than the paper it's printed on!

cheers,

-E