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  Photo: Meadows Farms Nurseries
For dogwood lovers, Venus is out of this world.
This hybrid is distinguished by exceptionally large, profuse, creamy white flowers (or bracts for the sticklers) that can grow up to 8 inches across. The sterile flowers appear in May and June and will almost completely cover the tree. Cut branches are also beautiful and last in a vase for up to three weeks.
In the fall, attractive strawberry-like fruit appears, bolstered by beautiful fall foliage. In the summer, leaves are a glossy dark green.
Venus is an improved dogwood hybrid with superb resistance to anthracnose and powdery mildew. This Rutgers University introduction from Elwin Orton Jr. has clean foliage and a fast-growing, full habit with branches all the way to the ground.
Wayside Gardens describes the flowers as floating on the outside of the tree “like big butterflies.”
Dogwoods are notoriously thirsty, but Venus shows a stronger tolerance of dry periods than her fragile cousins, according to Wayside Gardens.
Best of both worlds
Venus is part C. kousa × nuttalli (the Pacific dogwood) and part C. kousa. This vigorous grower has a reputation for good tolerance of drought conditions. It’s a dense tree branched low to the ground with upright branches.
At maturity, expect Venus to grow 20-35 feet tall with a spread of 20 feet or more. Branches form a rounded head that is wider than it is tall.
At Rutgers, the original tree has been field tested for more than 20 years and has been completely winter-hardy in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. Some growers show cold hardiness to Zone 4.
Grow Venus in partial sun. Use as a specimen or as an urban tree.
In 2007, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society added Venus to its Gold Medal Plant Award program. Since its inception in 1978, the program has recognized trees, shrubs and woody vines of outstanding merit.
For more information: Rutgers University, http://agproducts.rutgers.edu. Wayside Gardens, www.waysidegardens.com. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, www.goldmedalplants.org.
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