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cornus controversa variegata. Does it need training?

RobmarstonRobmarston Posts: 338
in Plants
I have coveted a cornus controversa variegata for some time and stumbled on one at a bargain price at my local GC.  It's in a pot and has been tied to a bamboo can to keep it upright.  however, I can clearly see that the branch is layering and wants to go horizontally.  At the moment the plant is only about 3 ft high and only branches on one side.  What I need to know is if I have to train it to keep it straight, or if it will naturally form the layers it's known for.  I'm going to keep it in a pot for a year or two which I believe is fine, and move it around the garden  until I decide where to plant it.  If anyone has any experience growing these I'd love any general tips and advice.  I have acid soil so I'm going to pot it in ericacious compost.  

Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited August 2018
    Good to get a small young plant.( far better than a larger one)
    It grows a new layer each year. So is slow.
    It will be far happier in the ground than in a pot...it needs to have room for the roots to spread out.
    Mulch it well and keep it well watered.
    Make sure you give it a special position with a lot of space to grow.
    Eventually it will get wide and tall.
    Pic attached is a fine specimen in flower at Pitmuies Garden in Scotland 
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Mix some of you own soil in with the compost so it gets to know your local micro organisms and will establish better.  Use some microrhizal fungae too to help it along.

    These things naturally grow in layers so just leave it be and make sure it has enough water and nutrients in the pot and when you eventually plant it out and it's getting established.

    Friends of mine have a beauty so it's on my list for this new garden just as soon as I find a good specimen and have enough rain and compost to improve the soil when I plant it.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • RobmarstonRobmarston Posts: 338
    Funny how what you reads has an impact. I’d read that it’s a small ornamental for smaller gardens. Now I see they can get huge! I’m going to have to think again about where to plant it. 
  • RobmarstonRobmarston Posts: 338
    It does appear to be grafted as there was a sucker coming from the base of the plant. It looked like a more general Cornus. Might this make a difference to the final size?
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    As far as I know all Cornus contraversa variegata are  now grafted plants.
    So no it won't make any difference to eventual size.
    Make sure you remove all/any future suckers asap.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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