General Description | Wangerin is a small to medium size tree with 'alligator hide' like bark, white flower’s in the spring and green leaves that turn red in the autumn. |
ID Characteristic | A very unique 'alligator hide' like bark. Small round black fleshy fruit and simple green ovate leaves. |
Shape | Vase shaped initially but then slightly pendulous branching at maturity. |
Landscape | Cornus walteri is a multi-seasonal plant due to its white flowers in the spring, and dark green leaves that turn red in the autumn while the fruit attract birds, squirrels and a variety of other mammals. Great for shade and can be possibly used as a residential street tree. |
Propagation | Remove the flesh from the seed as it contains germination inhibitors. Seed may take 18 months or more to germinate and benefits from a warm stratification at 15°C for a week prior to cold stratification at 5°C for 4 months. Cuttings of semi-hardwood stems rooted in sand in cold frame in July provide acceptable results. |
Cultivation | Cornus walteri can grow in full sun but prefers partial shade and humid areas with well-drained soils such as clay, loam or sand. |
Pests | May be prone canker, leaf spot and branch blight, powdery mildew and dogwood borer. |
Notable Specimens | Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, England. |
Habitat | Found in mixed forests of varying canopy density from 300-3000 m. |
Bark/Stem Description | Walter's Dogwood has a unique and irregular pattern in the bark and looks like alligator hide and is typically a grey or brown colour. |
Leaf Description | A simple dark green leaf, ovate in shape and opposite in arrangement. It has pinnate venation and can range from 5 - 13 cm long, and 3 - 5 cm wide. The leaf also has fine suppressed hairs more so abaxil. |
Flower Description | Small white flowers are produced in 5 - 8 cm corymbose cymes. |
Fruit Description | Walter's Dogwood has small round shaped fruit, up to 2 cm in diameter. This fleshy black fruit is inconspicuous amongst the red autumn leaves. The fruit attracts birds, squirrels as well as other small mammals. Thankfully the fruit doesn't leave a significant mess on the ground after it falls and can thus be planted near driveways and patios. The fruit ripen from August-October. |
Colour Description | C. walteri has a grey to brown bark, white flowers in the spring, dark green leaves that change to red in the autumn and small black fleshy fruits. |
Texture Description | Medium texture. |