Eddie's White Wonder Dogwood Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder'

Water

The Eddie's White Wonder dogwood should be watered deeply and regularly, especially during its first few growing seasons to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering once a week with approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water, equivalent to 0.5 to 1 gallons, should suffice. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. During periods of drought or extreme heat, increase the amount slightly, and in the winter, reduce the frequency of watering since the plant will be dormant.

Light

Eddie's White Wonder dogwood thrives best in partial shade to full sun. It should be planted in a location where it will receive morning sunlight and some afternoon shade, particularly in hotter climates, to protect it from the intense late-day sun. When situated in too much shade, the flowering may be reduced, so ideally, the plant should get at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Temperature

Eddie's White Wonder dogwoods are tolerant of a range of temperatures but perform best in an environment where the average temperature lies between 60°F and 75°F. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, generally withstanding minimum winter temperatures down to -20°F and maximum summer temperatures up to 95°F. The plant may experience stress and potential damage outside of these temperature ranges.

Pruning

Pruning the Eddie's White Wonder dogwood is necessary to maintain its shape, remove dead or diseased wood, and encourage more prolific flowering. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Cut back any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other and remove a quarter of the oldest stems to promote new growth. It is advisable to prune annually to keep the plant healthy and aesthetically pleasing.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Eddie's White Wonder Dogwood prefers organically rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. A good mix would include loamy soil, peat moss, and perlite or pine bark fines to ensure proper drainage and aeration. It's essential to keep the soil consistently moist, but avoid waterlogging.

Repotting

Eddie's White Wonder Dogwood, being a larger shrub or small tree, does not typically require frequent repotting. Instead of repotting, it should be regularly mulched and top-dressed with compost to refresh the nutrients in its soil if planted in a garden setting.

Humidity & Misting

Eddie's White Wonder Dogwood tolerates average outdoor humidity levels. As a garden plant, it does not require specific humidity adjustments. However, it benefits from mulching to retain soil moisture, mimicking its preferred humid environment without needing special attention to ambient humidity.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Not ideal for indoors; requires ample space, sunlight.

• Outdoor

  Plant in partial shade, moist, well-draining soil, mulch.

• Hardiness zone

  5-9 USDA

Life cycle

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder', commonly known as Eddie's White Wonder Dogwood, begins its life cycle with seed germination in suitable conditions, which typically require a period of cold stratification to break the seed's dormancy. The seedling stage follows germination, where the plant develops its first true leaves and establishes a root system. As it matures into the vegetative stage, Eddie's White Wonder Dogwood grows taller and bushier, producing characteristic oval-shaped leaves. During the flowering stage, which occurs in late spring to early summer, the plant showcases large white bracts that are often mistaken for petals surrounding small, inconspicuous flowers. After pollination, the flowers develop into berry-like fruits called drupes, which mature by late summer to early fall and are food sources for birds and other wildlife. The plant then enters a period of dormancy during the winter months, where growth ceases temporarily until conditions are favorable for the next cycle of growth in spring.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-early summer

• The Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder', also known as Dogwood, is commonly propagated in the late fall to early winter months, using semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings. The most popular method involves taking a 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) cutting from the current year's growth, ensuring that a few leaves remain on the upper end. This cutting is then dipped into a rooting hormone powder to encourage root development and planted in a pot filled with a mix of peat and perlite or sand to provide adequate drainage. The pot is typically placed in a protected area with indirect light and kept moist until roots have developed, which usually takes several weeks. The new Dogwood plants are then gradually acclimatized to outdoor conditions before planting them in their final location in the garden.