About Cornus controversa Hemsl.
Cornus controversa, commonly called the wedding cake tree and also known by the synonyms Swida controversa and Bothrocaryum controversum (Hemsl.) Pojark, is a flowering plant species belonging to the dogwood family Cornaceae. This species is native to China, Korea, Japan, and the Himalayas. It is a deciduous tree that reaches a mature height of 50 feet (15 meters), growing with multiple tiered branches. In summer, it produces flat panicles of white flowers; the cymes measure 3–7 inches (8–18 cm) across. After flowering, it develops globose black drupe fruits that reach up to 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) wide. Its ovate dark green leaves are 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) long, have a glaucous underside, and turn red-purple in autumn. Cornus controversa is cultivated in gardens and parks across temperate regions, and the name Bothrocaryum controversum is often used when its seeds are offered for online sale. The cultivar C. controversa 'Variegata' has leaves with cream-colored margins that turn yellow in autumn, and grows smaller than the parent species, typically reaching only 25 feet (8 meters) tall. This cultivar has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
