Plant Spotlight: Hyperion Dogwood
A Dogwood Tree for a Sunny Spot? Yes, please!
I planted two Hyperion Dogwoods (Cornus x ‘KF 111-1’) last fall with one on either side of a path leading at a 45-degree angle into the center garden from the southeast corner. The vision is to have the canopies grow over the path and eventually touch, forming a green “tunnel” during the summer that becomes multi-colored in the fall sporting shades of yellow, purple, and orange. And, perhaps best of all, in spring the trees are smothered in large white bracts.
I was looking for a smaller tree to use that could be limbed up high enough to walk under but wouldn’t get so tall that it blocked the view of the buttes in the distance. And since it’s going to be a focal point in the center garden, I wanted a tree that had lots of multi-season interest. The Hyperion Dogwood should work well with its seasonal characteristics noted above and a mature height of 20 feet.
It is a hybrid variety that was developed at Rutgers University. According to Rutgers, these trees have an increased drought tolerance, have almost no problems with powdery mildew and other fungal diseases, and display extreme vigor and rapid growth. They are also supposed to be able to handle a sunnier spot better than most other dogwood trees, which are understory trees growing along woodland edges. I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that they’ll hold up under our intense summer sun.
Hyperion Dogwood Characteristics
Hardiness: USDA Zones 6-9
Size: 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide
Growth Rate: Fast
Bloom: Early to mid-spring
Habit (Form/Shape): Upright and somewhat rounded
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Adaptable but does best in a well-draining soil rich in organic matter (isn’t that just about everything!)
Pests/Diseases: Higher levels of resistance to pests and diseases
