Small, deciduous North American tree Description: Showy light pink flowers give a magnificent display for several weeks in mid spring Habit: Reaches 20 to 30 feet high and wide Culture: Prefers sun to part shade and average soils Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 through 9 Origin: Eastern North AmericaAttributes: Attracts bees and butterflies; Deer resistant; Showy fruits; Fall color; Rain gardenJefferson-documentedCornus florida is an understory tree, native to eastern North America, which was introduced to American gardens by 1731. Philadelphia botanist and nurseryman John Bartram sold Cornus florida in 1783 and Thomas Jefferson included "Dog-wood" on a list of trees in 1771. Jefferson also made several shipments of seed to his Parisian friend, Madame de Tesse. In an 1805 letter to Mme de Tesse, Jefferson noted "we have a variety of Cornus florida with a flesh coloured blossom, but it is so rare that I have seen it in but one place on my road from Washington to Monticello." The pink or flesh colored form occurs naturally in the wild and was the subject of a painting by the naturalist Mark Catesby in his early 18th-century Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands.This plant will ship bare root. Pink Flowering Dogwood is approximately 18-30" tall.Bare root planting tips: If you can't plant immediately, store your Pink Flowering Dogwood in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center. Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery. Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.
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