The appealing yellow and green variegated foliage of Golden Shadows dogwood.

Golden Shadows dogwood planted as a specimen in front of a brick ranch house.

Golden Shadows® Pagoda Dogwood

Make a memorable, elegant statement in your landscape with Golden Shadows^® pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). This small tree gets the name “pagoda dogwood” from its strongly horizontal branching which give it a distinctive look that does indeed resemble the famous pagodas of Japan. Bedecking these branches are elegant variegated leaves that emerge orange and soon develop a mélange of cheery yellow and emerald green. In spring, clusters of white flowers are held above the branches for a truly unforgettable display you’ll look forward to every year.

Though it sounds like Golden Shadows dogwood would hail from a faraway place, it is native to North America and brings with it excellent durability, hardiness (down to USDA zone 3), and heat tolerance (through USDA zone 8). As it grows in the understory of the forests of the eastern half of the US and Canada, it’s also far more shade tolerant than one might expect, and its golden foliage lights up dim spaces. This spectacular small tree deserves pride of place in your landscape or garden, where it will get you compliments for a lifetime.

Golden Shadows dogwood is part of the Proven Winners^® ColorChoice^® Trees program.

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Additional information

Dimensions	10 × 10 ft
Botanical Name	Cornus alternifolia syn. Swida alternifolia 'Wstackman' PP#11,287
Zone	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Foliage Color	Green, Variegated, Yellow
Height	10-12'
Width/Spread	10-12'
Exposure	Full Sun, Part Shade
Soil	Average, Moist, Well-drained
Bloom Time	Spring
Uses	Foundations, Shade tree, Specimen, Woodland gardens
Features	Alkaline soil, Clay soil, Deer resistant, Foliage interest, Native, Tree
Breeder	Don Shadow
Blooms On	Old wood

SKU: 17500 Categories: Dogwood, Shrubs for Shade, Tall, Wide

Plant Care

Light: Part sun (4-6 hrs sun/day, or filtered light all day)

Soil: Any average, well-drained soil will do. Avoid excessively wet or excessively dry conditions.

Water: Average water needs.

Fertilizing: If desired, fertilize in early spring using a granular (not liquid) fertilizer formulated for woody plants, like a rose or tree fertilizer. One application a year is sufficient in most areas. However, if you are starting with a very small plant, you may wish to fertilize monthly through late July to encourage more rapid growth.

Pruning: Little needed. You may selectively prune out branches to achieve a desired shape and habit as needed, but Golden Shadows dogwood should take on an attractive form without the need for pruning or training.