#Top 5 Places To Visit In Summers In India

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Top 5 Summer Places to Visit in India

As the scorching summer sun beats down, it’s time to escape the heat and embrace the cool serenity of India’s top summer destinations. From misty hill stations to tranquil beaches, India offers many options to beat the heat and rejuvenate your senses. Let’s embark on a virtual journey through the top five summer places to visit in India:

Leh-Ladakh:Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Leh-Ladakh is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Famous for its stunning landscapes, rugged mountains, and pristine lakes, this region offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness. Explore the ancient monasteries like Hemis and Thiksey, embark on thrilling treks to spots like Stok Kangri or Markha Valley, and witness the breathtaking vistas of Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley. The cool, crisp air and surreal surroundings make Leh-Ladakh an ideal summer getaway.

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Known as the “Queen of Hill Stations,” Shimla is a timeless gem that exudes colonial charm and natural splendour. Escape the summer heat amidst lush greenery, snow-capped peaks, and Victorian-era architecture. Take a stroll along the Mall Road, explore the historic Christ Church, and indulge in adventure activities like paragliding and trekking in nearby areas such as Kufri and Mashobra. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, Shimla promises an unforgettable summer retreat.

Darjeeling, West Bengal:Perched in the eastern Himalayas, Darjeeling is renowned for its scenic beauty, aromatic tea gardens, and panoramic views of the Kanchenjunga range. Wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed Darjeeling tea, take a ride on the iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (Toy Train), and visit attractions like the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park and the Peace Pagoda. For adventurous souls, trekking to spots like Sandakphu or exploring the Singalila National Park offers an adrenaline rush amidst nature’s bounty.

Goa:Escape to the sunny beaches and vibrant culture of Goa for an unforgettable summer vacation. With its golden sands, azure waters, and lively shacks, Goa beckons travellers from across the globe. Spend your days lounging on the beaches of Calangute, Baga, or Palolem, indulge in thrilling water sports, and savour delicious seafood delicacies. Explore the Portuguese heritage in Old Goa with its cathedrals and churches, or simply immerse yourself in the pulsating nightlife of this coastal paradise. Goa offers a perfect blend of relaxation and revelry for a memorable summer escapade.

Manali, Himachal Pradesh:Situated amidst the towering peaks of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges, Manali is a haven for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Escape the summer heat as you explore lush valleys, gushing rivers, and snow-clad mountains. Visit the ancient Hadimba Temple, dip in the hot springs of Vashisht, and embark on exhilarating treks to spots like Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley. Whether you’re craving tranquillity or adventure, Manali offers the perfect summer getaway amid scenic splendour.

In conclusion, India boasts diverse summer destinations, each offering a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and adventure. Whether you seek the tranquillity of misty mountains or the vibrant ambience of coastal shores, there’s something for everyone to explore and experience in India’s top summer escapes. So pack your bags, escape the heat, and embark on an unforgettable journey through these picturesque locales.

[ghumindiaghum]

Pondicherry Travel Guide 2024: Best Places to Visit & Things To Do

Welcome to your ultimate Pondicherry travel guide for 2024! This guide is designed to help you explore the best places to visit and things to do in this charming coastal town. Whether you’re planning your first trip or returning for another visit, Pondicherry offers a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Let’s dive in!

History of Pondicherry

Pondicherry, often referred to as “Puducherry” or simply “Pondy,” boasts a rich history that dates back to ancient times. The town has been influenced by various cultures over the centuries, from the Romans and Greeks to the Cholas and Vijayanagara Empire. However, the most significant period in Pondicherry’s history began with the arrival of the French in the late 17th century.

In 1674, the French East India Company established a trading post in Pondicherry, which eventually grew into a thriving colonial settlement. The French influence is still evident today in the town’s architecture, cuisine, and overall ambiance. Walking through the streets of the French Quarter, also known as White Town, feels like stepping back in time to a French colonial era. The grid-patterned streets, colonial buildings, and vibrant bougainvillea-covered walls add to the town’s charm.

Pondicherry remained under French control until 1954, when it was formally transferred to the Republic of India. Despite this change, the town has retained its unique blend of French and Indian cultures, making it a fascinating destination for history enthusiasts.

When to Visit | Pondicherry Travel Guide

Pondicherry enjoys a tropical climate, with warm temperatures throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

October to March: This period is considered the best time to visit Pondicherry. The temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C, making it comfortable for exploring the town, visiting the beaches, and enjoying various outdoor activities. The weather is also perfect for indulging in water sports.

April to June: These months mark the onset of summer in Pondicherry. Temperatures can soar to around 40°C, making it quite hot and humid. If you plan to visit during this time, ensure you stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours.

July to September: This is the monsoon season in Pondicherry. The town receives moderate to heavy rainfall, which can sometimes disrupt travel plans. However, the rains also bring a refreshing change and make the town’s landscapes lush and green. If you enjoy monsoon travel, this can be a good time to visit.

How to Get to Pondicherry

Pondicherry is well-connected to major cities in India, making it easily accessible by plane, train, car, and bus.

Plane

The nearest airport to Pondicherry is Chennai International Airport, located about 135 kilometers away. Chennai Airport is well-connected to major cities in India and abroad. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Pondicherry. The drive from Chennai to Pondicherry takes approximately 3 hours.

Train

Pondicherry has its own railway station, which is well-connected to major cities like Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai. Several trains run regularly to and from Pondicherry. The train journey offers scenic views of the countryside and is a comfortable option for travelers.

Car

If you prefer driving, you can reach Pondicherry by car. The town is connected to Chennai via the East Coast Road (ECR), which offers a picturesque drive along the coast. The journey takes about 3 hours, depending on traffic conditions. You can also drive from Bangalore, which is approximately 320 kilometers away and takes around 6-7 hours.

Bus

Top 5 Reasons to Visit | Pondicherry Travel Guide

Pondicherry offers a unique blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and modern amenities. Here are the top five reasons to visit this charming town:

1. Fascinating Culture and History

Pondicherry’s rich history and cultural diversity make it a captivating destination. The town’s French colonial heritage is evident in its architecture, cuisine, and way of life. Explore the charming streets of the French Quarter, visit historical landmarks, and immerse yourself in the town’s unique blend of French and Indian cultures.

2. Fabulous Food

Pondicherry is a food lover’s paradise, offering a delightful mix of French, South Indian, and international cuisines. From charming cafes serving croissants and coffee to traditional South Indian eateries, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Don’t miss the chance to try local specialties like seafood dishes, crepes, and filter coffee.

3. Shop Local

Pondicherry is known for its vibrant markets and boutique shops. Explore the bustling streets of the town and discover a wide range of handmade products, from textiles and pottery to jewelry and handicrafts. The Sunday Market on Mahatma Gandhi Road is a must-visit for unique souvenirs and local treasures.

4. Hit the Beach

Pondicherry’s coastline is dotted with beautiful beaches, offering a perfect escape for beach lovers. Relax on the sandy shores, take a dip in the clear waters, or indulge in water sports like kayaking and surfing. Popular beaches like Promenade Beach, Paradise Beach, and Auroville Beach are ideal for a day of sun and sea.

5. Auroville

What to Do in Pondicherry

Pondicherry offers a wide range of activities and attractions to suit every traveler’s interests. Here are some of the top things to do in Pondicherry:

1. 300 Years And Counting

Pondicherry’s rich history spans over 300 years, making it a treasure trove of historical landmarks and sites. Visit the Pondicherry Museum to learn about the town’s past, explore the ancient Arikamedu archaeological site, and marvel at the beautiful churches and colonial buildings that dot the town.

2. Remembering French Culture

Pondicherry’s French Quarter, also known as White Town, is a charming area with a distinct European vibe. Stroll through the tree-lined streets, admire the colonial architecture, and visit landmarks like the French War Memorial and the statue of Joseph François Dupleix. Enjoy a coffee at one of the many quaint cafes and soak in the town’s French ambiance.

3. Views Of The Water

Pondicherry’s coastline offers stunning views of the Bay of Bengal. Spend time at the Promenade Beach, where you can enjoy a leisurely walk along the seafront, watch the sunrise, and take in the refreshing sea breeze. The scenic beauty of the coastline is sure to leave you mesmerized.

4. In The Heart Of White Town

White Town is the heart of Pondicherry, known for its colonial charm and vibrant atmosphere. Explore the colorful streets, visit art galleries and boutique shops, and dine at the many restaurants offering a mix of French and Indian cuisines. The lively vibe and unique character of White Town make it a must-visit.

5. Strolling On The Edge Of The Bay Of Bengal

Take a stroll along the Promenade, a 1.2-kilometer-long stretch along the coast. It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, offering beautiful views of the sea, statues, and landmarks like the Mahatma Gandhi statue and the Old Lighthouse. The Promenade is perfect for a leisurely walk, jogging, or simply relaxing by the water.

Where to Eat in Pondicherry

Pondicherry’s culinary scene is a delightful blend of French, South Indian, and international flavors. Here are some of the best places to eat in Pondicherry:

Le Café: Located on the Promenade, Le Café is a popular spot for enjoying coffee and snacks with a view of the sea. It’s open 24/7, making it a convenient stop any time of the day.

Baker Street: This French bakery offers a range of delicious pastries, bread, and sandwiches. It’s a great place for breakfast or a light meal.

Villa Shanti: A charming restaurant in White Town, Villa Shanti offers a mix of French and Indian cuisine in a beautiful courtyard setting.

La Maison Rose: This colonial-style restaurant serves a variety of French and continental dishes. The ambiance and food make it a perfect spot for a leisurely meal.

Appachi Chettinad: For a taste of traditional South Indian cuisine, head to Appachi Chettinad. The restaurant offers a range of Chettinad dishes, known for their rich flavors and spices.

Where to Stay | Pondicherry Travel Guide

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Pondicherry offers a variety of accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences. Whether you’re looking for luxury hotels, boutique guesthouses, or budget-friendly stays, you’ll find plenty of choices. Ghum India Ghum, a leading tour and travel company in India will arrange these packages along with other destinations of your choice.

Popular Neighborhoods in Puducherry

White Town: Colonial architecture, charming streets, and proximity to major attractions characterize this area.Staying in White Town offers a unique experience with easy access to cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Auroville: Located a short drive from Pondicherry, Auroville offers a tranquil and alternative stay experience. It’s ideal for those looking for a peaceful retreat and a chance to explore the unique community of Auroville.

Promenade Beach Area: Staying near Promenade Beach offers beautiful sea views and easy access to the beach. It’s a great choice for beach lovers and those who enjoy seaside walks.

Heritage Town: Heritage buildings and cultural significance mark this area. If you’re interested in exploring Pondicherry’s history and local culture, it’s a great place to stay.

FAQs on Pondicherry Travel Guide

1. What is the best time to visit Pondicherry?

The best time to visit Pondicherry is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

2. How can I reach Pondicherry?

Pondicherry is well-connected by plane, train, car, and bus. The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, about 135 kilometers away. Pondicherry has its own railway station and is well-connected by road to major cities.

3. What are the top attractions in Pondicherry?

Some of the top attractions in Pondicherry include the French Quarter (White Town), Promenade Beach, Auroville, Pondicherry Museum, and the ancient Arikamedu archaeological site.

4. What kind of food can I expect in Pondicherry?

Pondicherry offers a delightful mix of French, South Indian, and international cuisines. You can enjoy everything from croissants and coffee to traditional South Indian dishes and seafood.

5. Is Pondicherry a good destination for shopping?

Vibrant markets and boutique shops make Pondicherry well-known. You can find a wide range of handmade products, including textiles, pottery, jewelry, and handicrafts.

6. Are there good beaches in Pondicherry?

Yes, Pondicherry has several beautiful beaches, including Promenade Beach, Paradise Beach, and Auroville Beach. These beaches are perfect for relaxing, swimming, and water sports.

7. What is Auroville?

Auroville is an experimental township located near Pondicherry. They founded the organization in 1968 to promote human unity and sustainable living. Visitors can explore the Matrimandir, attend workshops, and learn about the community’s unique way of life.

We hope this Pondicherry travel guide for 2024 helps you plan an unforgettable trip to this charming coastal town. Enjoy your journey and make the most of everything Pondicherry has to offer!

[taegularities]

As someone who went there last summer just same time around may-june (prefect time to be) it's pretty awesome even best if you by chance gets to see some left over autumn it's such looker

As for the heat it's pretty alot like I'm from Brazil so yk shouldn't be a problem for me that much but I swear that moment I step out like heat is pretty bareble If you all cover up and suncream rolled and not so much direct contact with sun BUT IT'S THE HUMIDITY which just big no but after 3-5 pm in the afternoon you are good to go for outing and gets to explore even better places at evening time

Or you really wanna explore early market you can go out from 7-10 am best time to find some old tradition places and for closed space idts it's makes much difference almost all the good spots are pretty much open and welcoming

people there in Japan are very hostile and friendly especially old peeps.. But just be careful at coward places like metro station or parks and all because of other tourist who are actually so rude while taking picture and they don't even look for other's privacy or have any kind of manners just keep an eye there

ALSO DO VISIT AS MANY RAMEN NOODLE SHOPS YOU CAN I'M TELLING BESIDES SOME REAL DELICIOUS NOODLES YOU WILL ALSO GATHER LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES

Yea I hope you enjoy lot and it's one my top 5 favourite places to visit again

AH i've heard spring (i guess that's what you meant?? but i heard autumn in japan is amazing, too, and very red!!) is a perfect time to go there. it's just so BLEH bc in my job, it's not easy to get time off; summer is far more doable, but i'm so badddd with the heat 😭 if nothing else seems possible, i might just risk it and endure the humidity and plan indoor activities for the worst part of the day. as someone who's been to india during the worst time of the year, i just. humidity is just. 🥴 a no no. also guessing you meant hospitable hehe bc lots of people do say that everybody's very nice over there, so that's a relief. AND BEST BELIEVE I'M GONNA HIT UP EVERY RAMEN PLACE POSSIBLE LMAO i wanna go to a naruto ichiraku themed restaurant so bad :') </3 thank you so so much, love!!!

[rovejournals]

"Auli's Pristine Beauty: A Winter Wonderland Awaits"

Tucked away in the heart of Chamoli, Uttarakhand, Auli is a hidden treasure that beckons travelers with its captivating beauty. As the seasons change, the lush green meadows of Auli transform into a mesmerizing winter wonderland, blanketed in pristine snow and offering stunning views of iconic peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet, and Mana Parvat.

Auli is renowned as India's premier skiing destination and proudly holds the title of the 'Skiing Capital of India.' Its top-notch skiing infrastructure, including the Auli Skiing Resort, caters to both beginners and seasoned skiers, making it a haven for winter sports enthusiasts.

The climate in Auli presents a delightful contrast throughout the year. Summers offer pleasant weather, ideal for trekking and camping, while winters usher in frigid temperatures and abundant snowfall, creating a paradise for skiing.

Auli's most prominent attraction is its long and high cable car ride, one of the longest in Asia. To make the most of your visit, secure accommodation close to the skiing area and purchase cable car tickets in advance, as queues can get lengthy. Arriving early is advisable, especially during winter when the cable car service closes at 5 p.m. Trekking enthusiasts will find Auli to be an exceptional base for adventures like the Kuari Pass Trek and the Valley of Flowers Trek, with the nearby Valley of Flowers National Park designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosting numerous rare and endangered species.

Auli is more than a destination for adrenaline junkies; it's a place of serenity and tranquility amidst the Himalayas. From thrilling skiing experiences to peaceful retreats and the opportunity to explore Mana Village, Auli caters to a wide range of travelers. Be prepared for deep snow cover, wear appropriate snow boots, and consider hiring a taxi rather than driving on potentially hazardous roads. Auli's charm, no matter the season, promises a memorable journey in the lap of the Himalayas.

Visit Rove Journals for more beautiful places in India, insight, tips and hidden gem.

[eventblogger]

Some Exciting Tourist Places in North India You Have Not Explored Yet

https://theamberpost.com/post/some-exciting-tourist-places-in-north-india-you-have-not-explored-yet

Source: unsplash.com

If your thirst for exploration continues to mount, there are always going to be a few tourist destinations that you still haven't visited yet. That's right! Remember that India is a vast country. It is full of surprises no matter in which direction you look. You can move beyond the various tourist places to visit in north India or northern states.

When you look at the Northeast or a city such as Jaipur or Jaisalmer in Rajasthan in the west, every location has a different charm and you are drawn to them for the simple reason that all of these places have a distinguishable experience to offer. We are going to talk about a few very diverse travel destinations in various states across India. You will come across tourist places in Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, and many more areas. Let's begin:

The Majestic City of Agra:

The city of Agra is like a jewel in the crown of Uttar Pradesh. The 7th wonder of the world which is the Taj Mahal is a beacon of the unrelenting and undying love of a king for her queen that attracts thousands of tourists from all across the globe. It is not just an impressive structure but a symbol of the diverse heritage and history that our nation is known for. And yes, the view of the Taj Mahal at night is even more breathtaking than what is described in several newspapers, blogs, articles, and travel brochures.

The Beautiful Town of Dharamshala:

If you are looking for great tourist places to visit in north India and something that can be your recluse or escape from the hustle and bustle of your city, Dharamshala should be on top of your list. It is also the home to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. It is a beautiful hill town located in Himachal Pradesh and the awe-inspiring view of the Dhauladhar range from various locations of this hill station makes the experience even more awesome. It is a popular spot known for nature activities, forts, and museums.

Amritsar, The City of Legends:

If devotion and patriotism had a name, it would be Amritsar. it is one of the most loved tourist places in Punjab and is the center of spirituality, Home to the Golden Temple, Sri Harmandir Sahib, this city apart from being the most significant pilgrimage site for Sikhs is also home to the most amazing street food under the sky.

Morni - The Zenith of Haryana:

People often say that Morni Hills Chandigarh is the crown of Haryana. It is also the only hill station in this state. Authorities and the government are now developing Morni Hills as one of the hottest sports destinations in the country. Activities such as motor boating, paragliding, hiking, and camping are already quite popular in this region.

Source: Instagram.com

Morni is just a couple of hours or less from Chandigarh. It is surrounded by lush greenery and undisturbed foliage. You will also be surprised to see the number of restaurants and cafes on your way to Tikkar Tal. Being away from the city yet so close to civilization just makes your drive to Morni even more fun.

Rishikesh is Where Yogis Live:

Rishikesh is without a doubt a yogi's paradise and one of the most popular tourist places to visit in north India. It is located on the banks of the river Ganga on the foothills of the Himalayas. Your trip to the state of Uttarakhand is going to be incomplete without paying a visit to Rishikesh.

It is the perfect summer escape and an early morning walk across Tapovan is going to be refreshing and enlightening at the same time. The bank of the river Ganga is dusted heavily with grey granular sand that feels like feathers under your feet. Rishikesh is reachable via a very solid road network within 5 hours whether you are in Chandigarh or in the national capital.

Jaisalmer The City of Kings:

Located in the heart of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer is known for its groundbreaking architecture and works as a portal to transport you to the glorious times of Kings and Queens. Also known as the Golden City by many, it has some of the most inspiring hotels, homestays, and hospitality centres that have been converted from ancient havelis giving you an experience that nothing else can rival.

As we said before, India is full of surprises. Every state has a different taste, a different flavour to offer. If you haven't made an itinerary yet, do it now!

Original Source: https://theamberpost.com/post/some-exciting-tourist-places-in-north-india-you-have-not-explored-yet

[trektrip]

CHEAP AND 5 COOL PLACES TO TRAVEL IN INDIA

CHEAP AND 5 COOL PLACES TO TRAVEL IN INDIA

ABOUT INDIA:

India's incredible diversity provides you with everything you could possibly want during your trip. You are about to embark on one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life when you arrive in India and are welcomed with the polite namaste, a greeting that conveys both welcome and respect.

You can witness the course of history as you journey throughout this enormous country. The magnificent customs, culture, and wealth that have made this subcontinent a top travel destination for travelers over the years are on display as you view palaces, forts, temples, mosques, and cathedrals that have stood as witnesses to timeless pasts.

There is something special about it that makes it so appealing that other places just don't have it. Additionally, there are several regions of India that are only fully comprehended by visiting them.

ARE YOU  PLANNING A VACATION ?

TRAVEL BLOG < BUDGET FRIENDLY HOTELS

Planning a vacation involves a lot of considerations, such as locating affordable travel destinations, the safety of the region you're going to, and accommodation possibilities. However, money is the single most important factor influencing our travel choices, and economical feasibility check has to be planned accordingly.

India has a lot of affordable, easily accessible tourist destinations that provide just as wonderful a journey as far-flung locales. Here is our list of five inexpensive places to travel to so you don't have to worry about breaking the bank.

India's Five Cheapest Destinations:

1.KODAIKANAL

2.HAMPI

3.OOTY

4.ALLEPPEY

5.WAYANAD

 LETS EXPLORE:

    1. KODAIKANAL

 It is accurate to refer to Kodaikanal as the Princess of Hill Stations. Beautiful lakes, picturesque walks, undulating hills, breathtaking pine trees, and an amazing climate characterize this charming tiny hill station in TamilNadu.

Kodaikanal is one of Tamil Nadu's and India's most popular hill station attractions. Kodaikanal, which is roughly 7000 feet above sea level, was made a popular tourist resort in 1845 by British officials and Christian missionaries. But the first mentions of the beautiful hill station date back to the Sangam age of literature. However, it wasn't until the British arrived that Kodaikanal entered its modern era. The colonial power used it as a holiday destination and summer retreat. Since then, hill station enthusiasts have frequently chosen Kodaikanal as their destination for a short mountain getaway.Experience the once-in-a-lifetime experience without breaking the bank by boating on Kodaikanal Lake, riding around it, or trekking to the closest hillock at night for a breathtaking glimpse of the Milky Way galaxy.

There are numerous reasons why Kodaikanal has been a popular tourist destination, including the lush hills, tumbling waterfalls, charming lakes, and immaculate landscape. There is a lot to see, see, and experience in the area for a discriminating tourist. A visitor can engage in a variety of activities here. Among them, some of the most popular activities are trekking, horseback riding, cycling, and boating. Another sight to behold in this area is the Kurinji flower, which blooms just once every twelve years, making it a singular spectacle.

Kodaikanal is a wonder in many aspects, including hills and valleys encircled by the mysterious embrace of mist, verdant mountain ranges that extend a warm welcome to guests, pleasure, and experiences that create priceless lifelong memories.

The mild, pleasant months of October through March are the ideal times of year to visit Kodaikanal. The summer and monsoon seasons are also excellent times to explore the hill station.

HOW TO REACH????

🚍Within the town itself is the Kodaikanal Bus Stand. From Madurai Aarappalayam, Batlagundu, Palani, Oddanchatram, Kodai Road, and Dindigul, there are regular bus services.

✈️Approximately 115 kilometers away is Madurai International Airport. About 170 kilometers away is Coimbatore International Airport.

🚆64 kilometers away is the Palani Railway Station. 80 miles away is Kodai Road Station. Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, and Madurai all have regular train services.

2. HAMPI

Once the capital of the strong Vijayanagara Dynasty, the ancient town of Hampi is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins of Hampi, which are situated along the banks of the Tungabhadra River, provide a breathtaking view of its former splendor amid the boulder-strewn surroundings.

Virupaksha Temple, Vithala Temple, Nandi monument, Lotus Mahal, the monolithic monument of Sasivekalu Ganesha, and the Hampi Bazaar area are the main points of interest in Hampi.You can ride a bike among the magnificent buildings or take a walk through the temple village to examine the ruins.

October through March is the ideal time of year to visit Hampi. The town is bustling and the weather is excellent throughout these months.

HOW TO REACH????

🚍Bus services connect Hampi to all of Karnataka's main cities and towns. In Hampi  two-wheelers can also be rented.

.

✈️he nearest is Bellary's Jindal Vijaynagar Airport (37 kilometers). Kempegowde International Airport in Bengaluru is the closest international airport, located 360 kilometers away.

🚆The closest train station that links Hampi with other important Karnataka cities Hosapete Railway Station, which is 13 km away.

 3.OOTY

      The Nilgiri Hills provide the backdrop for Ooty, which offers visitors unparalleled visual splendor with its undulating hills, verdant valleys, and breathtaking lakes. Popular since the time of British control, Ooty is a hill station. Visitors from throughout the nation are still drawn to its stunning tea gardens and colonial cottages.

In addition to taking in the breathtaking scenery, you should see the historic Murugan Temple and St. Stephen's Church, go boating on one of the many lakes, including the Emerald Lake, Upper Bhavani Lake, and Avalanche Lake, and take a ride on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train.In 2005, UNESCO named the blue Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) toy train a World Heritage Site, marking a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Ooty attracts visitors from all over the world because of its pleasant and temperate environment, which is nearly constant throughout the year. Ooty provides discerning tourists who drive up the twisting roads to reach the apex much more than simply the mountains and hills. Lakes, parks, gardens, summits, waterfalls, and just plain fantastic lodging options. It is no wonder that Ooty is referred to as the "Switzerland of India" given how magnificent the area's natural beauty is. Ooty

is the ideal location if you enjoy unwinding with a cup of tea while taking in the expansive views of the natural world.The best time to visit Ooty is between March and June, when the weather is pleasant for sightseeing and outdoor activities. 

HOW TO REACH????

🚍The closest train station is 40 kilometers away in Mettupalyam. Mettupalyam has regular train connections to major South Indian cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru Coimbatore and Mysore.

✈️Coimbatore International Airport is the nearest airport (87 km).

🚆The closest train station is 40 kilometers away in Mettupalyam. Mettupalyam has regular train connections to major South Indian cities, including Chennai, Bengaluru Coimbatore and Mysore.

4. ALLEPY

Located in the center of Kerala's extensive waterway system, Alleppey—also referred to as the "Venice of the East"—displays the renowned Kerala backwaters in all their splendor. Another popular destination for houseboat trips and accommodations is Alleppey.

Over 900 kilometers make up the intricate system of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes, and inlets that make up Alappuzha's backwaters. A picturesque landscape is created by the coconut trees, paddy fields, charming villages, and lush foliage that envelop these serene rivers. A traditional Kerala experience is to explore these backwaters on a 'kettuvallam,' a traditional houseboat.

Spend a day exploring Kerala's stunning backwaters on a cozy yet comfortable houseboat. You may occasionally spot a little town along the way where you may stop for a drink of toddy before continuing on your journey through the captivating system of canals and backwaters.

Alappuzha houseboats provide opulent and comfortable lodging on the water and are furnished with contemporary conveniences. These floating wonders offer a distinctive vacation experience while retaining their genuine appeal because of their traditional construction from eco-friendly materials like bamboo, coir, and wood. 

Admire breath-taking vistas of the verdant surroundings, glistening waters, and lively village life as you float through the tranquil backwaters. The peaceful setting is ideal for settling down and relaxing.Due to the favorable weather, November through February is the ideal time of year to visit Alleppey.

HOW TO REACH????

🚍The distance between the city center and Alappuzha Railway Station approximately 4 km. Alappuzha has excellent access to practically all of India's biggest cities.

✈️Trivandrum International Airport (162 km) is the next nearest airport, after Cochin International Airport (82 km).

🚆The KSRTC bus service from Alappuzha to the neighboring cities is good.

5.WAYNAD

Wayanad is Kerala's lush paradise and a veritable gold mine of ecological diversity. Wayanad, tucked away in the Western Ghats' mountains, is well-liked by tourists because of its wild nature.

Everything contributes to the Wayanad experience, including the unspoiled beauty of nature, breathtaking trekking routes, the enormous lake system, and the rich history and legacy. Explore the stone-age pictorial paintings on the walls of Edakkal Caves, take in the charm of India's largest and Asia's second-largest earth dam, Banasura Sagar Dam, and walk to Wayanad's Chembra Peak, where you can see the well-known heart-shaped lake encircled by picturesque hills and valleys.

Wayanad is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, which includes undulating hills, verdant forests, and undulating lakes. 'Vayal Nadu,' which means 'the land of paddy fields,' is the district's name, reflecting its agricultural tradition and verdant vistas. Because of its high elevation, the area has a good climate all year round, which adds to its allure as a hill station.

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, one of the world's most abundant hotspots for biodiversity, includes a number of wildlife sanctuaries in Wayanad. Elephants, tigers, leopards, and several deer species may be found in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is separated into the Muthanga and Tholpetty ranges. It is also home to a wide variety of insects, birds, and reptiles, making it a wildlife and birdwatcher's paradise. Jeep safaris through these sanctuaries provide an opportunity to get up close and personal with the different ecosystems and lush woodlands while also witnessing animals in their natural habitat. Education about the value of preserving wildlife and their habitats is another benefit of the sanctuary's conservation initiatives.

November through February is the ideal time of year to visit Wayanad. The cold, foggy weather during these months is perfect for outdoor pursuits and tourism.

HOW TO REACH????

🚍A robust KSRTC bus network connects Wayanad to the neighboring cities.

✈️ Karipur International Airport in Kozhikode, which is 98 kilometers away, is the   closest airport.

🚆Kozhikode is the nearest train station (85 km). Cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi are all easily accessible by rail from Kozhikode.

There are many travel agencies around India offering you varied packages . One of the best and cheapest travel operators include Trektrip Tours And Travels Pvt Ltd,Kochi, India. They are situated in the outskirts of Ernakulam. They offer varied packages curated as per customer needs offering hassle free and feasible packages.

Click here for more info:

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ooty tourism

Ooty Tourism – The Queen of Hill Stations 🌿🏞️ Let us discuss about ooty tourism

Ooty (Udhagamandalam) is one of India’s most popular hill stations, nestled in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. Famous for its lush tea gardens, cool climate, colonial charm, and scenic landscapes, Ooty is perfect for honeymooners, families, and adventure lovers.

Top Places to Visit in Ooty

1. Ooty Lake & Boat House 🚣‍♂️

A serene artificial lake surrounded by eucalyptus trees.

Enjoy boating (pedal, row, and motorboats).

Visit the Deer Park nearby.

2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway (Toy Train) 🚂

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, running between Mettupalayam & Ooty.

Offers stunning views of valleys, tunnels, waterfalls & tea gardens.

3. Botanical Garden 🌳

Established in 1848, covering 55 acres.

Home to thousands of exotic plants, a 20-million-year-old fossil tree & colorful flowers.

Visit during Ooty Summer Festival (May-June).

4. Doddabetta Peak ⛰️

Highest peak in the Nilgiris (2,637m) with 360° panoramic views.

Telescope house for a better view of valleys & forests.

5. Rose Garden 🌹

One of India’s largest rose gardens with 20,000+ varieties.

Best for romantic walks & photography.

6. Avalanche Lake & Emerald Lake 🏞️

Hidden gems surrounded by lush greenery & crystal-clear water.

Ideal for camping, trekking & photography.

7. Pykara Lake & Waterfalls 🌊

Peaceful lake with boating options & picturesque waterfalls.

you can also watch samudram cruise for lakshaadweep video in our channel.

[getsholidaysindiatour]

3 Nights, 3 Cities, 1 Unforgettable Adventure – The Golden Triangle Tour Explained

Introduction

India’s Golden Triangle Tours is one of the most popular travel circuits, covering Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. In just 3 nights and 4 days, you can experience a blend of history, culture, and architectural marvels. This itinerary ensures that you explore the best of North India, from the majestic Taj Mahal to the vibrant streets of Jaipur.

Day 1: Arrival in Delhi – Exploring the Capital

Top Attractions to Visit

Delhi, India’s capital, is a mix of ancient and modern influences. Start your journey by visiting India Gate, a war memorial dedicated to soldiers. Next, explore the UNESCO-listed Red Fort, a symbol of India’s rich past.

Other must-visit sites include Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, and Qutub Minar, a towering minaret from the 12th century. The Lotus Temple, known for its stunning architecture, is also a peaceful stop.

Best Places to Eat

For food lovers, Delhi offers a variety of local flavors. Head to Chandni Chowk for street food delights like parathas, chaat, and kebabs. If you prefer fine dining, try Indian Accent or Bukhara for a luxurious meal.

Day 2: Delhi to Agra – Discovering the Mughal Marvels

Taj Mahal and Other Historical Sites

After breakfast, drive to Agra (around 3-4 hours). The highlight of your visit is the Taj Mahal, an iconic symbol of love. Built by Emperor Shah Jahan, its white marble beauty is breathtaking, especially at sunrise.

Next, visit Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing Mughal architecture. It once served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. Nearby, you can explore Mehtab Bagh, a garden offering a stunning view of the Taj Mahal.

Shopping and Local Experiences

Agra is famous for marble inlay work and leather goods. Visit the Sadar Bazaar for souvenirs, or try the famous Agra Petha, a local sweet delicacy.

Day 3: Agra to Jaipur – The Pink City Awaits

En Route Visit to Fatehpur Sikri

On your way to Jaipur (around 5 hours), stop at Fatehpur Sikri. This abandoned Mughal city is known for its impressive structures like Buland Darwaza and Jama Masjid.

Jaipur Sightseeing Highlights

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is known for its pink-hued buildings and royal heritage. Start with Amber Fort, a majestic fortress with intricate carvings. Visit City Palace, which houses museums and courtyards.

Hawa Mahal, or the “Palace of Winds,” is another must-see landmark. Its unique architecture was designed to allow royal women to observe street festivities without being seen.

Day 4: Jaipur to Delhi – Conclusion of the Tour

Last-Minute Shopping and Local Cuisine

Before heading back to Delhi, explore Jaipur’s local markets like Johri Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar, where you can find jewelry, textiles, and handicrafts.

For breakfast or lunch, try traditional Rajasthani cuisine at Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar or Chokhi Dhani.

Return Journey and Final Thoughts

After an unforgettable journey through three cities, drive back to Delhi (around 5-6 hours) to conclude your tour.

Best Time to Visit the Golden Triangle

The best time for this tour is between October and March when the weather is pleasant. Summers can be extremely hot, making sightseeing uncomfortable, while monsoons can bring unpredictable rains.

Tips for a Smooth Travel Experience

Carry comfortable footwear as you’ll be walking a lot.

Book tickets for major attractions in advance to avoid long queues.

Try local dishes to get the complete cultural experience.

Hire a local guide for deeper insights into historical sites.

Final Words

A 3 Nights 4 Days Golden Triangle Tour is an ideal way to experience India’s diverse culture and history in a short time. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the regal palaces of Jaipur and the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal, this journey promises unforgettable memories. Plan your trip and immerse yourself in the wonders of North India!

[journeyjive]

Best Tour & Travel Package in Jammu & Kashmir | Journey Jive

Jammu and Kashmir, often referred to as “Paradise on Earth,” is a dream destination for travelers seeking breathtaking landscapes, serene valleys, and rich cultural experiences. From the snow-capped peaks of Gulmarg to the tranquil Dal Lake in Srinagar, this region offers something for everyone. If you’re planning a trip to this enchanting part of India, Journey Jive is here to make your journey unforgettable with the best tour and travel packages tailored to your needs. Let’s explore why Jammu & Kashmir should be your next vacation spot and how Journey Jive can help you create lifelong memories.

Why Choose Jammu & Kashmir for Your Next Vacation?

Jammu & Kashmir is a land of diverse experiences. Whether you’re an adventure enthusiast, a nature lover, or someone seeking peace and tranquility, this region has it all. Here are some reasons why it’s a must-visit destination:

Stunning Natural Beauty: From the lush green meadows of Pahalgam to the pristine waters of Dal Lake, the natural beauty of Jammu & Kashmir is unparalleled. The region is also home to some of the highest mountain ranges in the world, offering breathtaking views and photo opportunities.

Adventure Activities: For thrill-seekers, Kashmir is a haven. Enjoy skiing in Gulmarg, trekking in Sonamarg, or river rafting in the Lidder River. The region offers a wide range of adventure activities that cater to all levels of expertise.

Rich Culture and Heritage: Jammu & Kashmir is steeped in history and culture. Visit the ancient temples of Jammu, the Mughal gardens of Srinagar, or the vibrant local markets to get a glimpse of the region’s rich heritage.

Warm Hospitality: The people of Jammu & Kashmir are known for their warmth and hospitality. Whether you’re staying in a luxury hotel or a cozy houseboat, you’ll be treated with utmost care and respect.

Spiritual Retreats: The region is also home to several spiritual destinations, such as Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, making it a perfect place for those seeking spiritual solace.

Journey Jive: Your Trusted Travel Partner

At Journey Jive, we understand that every traveler is unique, and so are their needs. That’s why we offer customized tour and travel packages that cater to your preferences and budget. Here’s what makes us the best choice for your Jammu & Kashmir trip:

1. Wide Range of Packages

Whether you’re planning a romantic honeymoon, a family vacation, or an adventurous getaway, we have the perfect package for you. Our offerings include:

Honeymoon Packages: Celebrate your love amidst the scenic beauty of Kashmir with our specially curated honeymoon packages.

Family Tour Packages: Enjoy a comfortable and memorable trip with your loved ones.

Adventure Packages: For those seeking adrenaline-pumping activities, we offer packages that include trekking, skiing, and more.

Pilgrimage Tours: Explore the spiritual side of Jammu & Kashmir with our pilgrimage tours.

2. Expert Guidance

Our team of travel experts has in-depth knowledge of Jammu & Kashmir. From suggesting the best places to visit to helping you plan your itinerary, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

3. Hassle-Free Booking

With Journey Jive, booking your dream vacation is easy and hassle-free. Our user-friendly platform allows you to browse through various packages, compare prices, and make secure payments.

4. Affordable Prices

We believe that everyone deserves to experience the beauty of Jammu & Kashmir. That’s why we offer affordable packages without compromising on quality.

5. 24/7 Customer Support

Our dedicated customer support team is available round the clock to assist you with any queries or concerns. Whether you need help with booking or have questions during your trip, we’re just a call away.

Top Destinations to Explore in Jammu & Kashmir

Here are some must-visit places that you can explore with Journey Jive’s tour packages:

Srinagar: The summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar is famous for its beautiful Dal Lake, Mughal gardens, and houseboats. Don’t miss a shikara ride on the lake!

Gulmarg: Known as the “Meadow of Flowers,” Gulmarg is a paradise for adventure lovers. Enjoy skiing, snowboarding, or simply soak in the stunning views.

Pahalgam: This picturesque town is perfect for nature lovers. Visit Betaab Valley, Aru Valley, and enjoy a peaceful retreat amidst nature.

Sonamarg: Also known as the “Meadow of Gold,” Sonamarg is a gateway to several trekking routes and offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas.

Jammu: Explore the ancient temples, including Vaishno Devi and Raghunath Temple, and immerse yourself in the spiritual aura of this city.

Leh-Ladakh: While technically a separate region, Ladakh is often included in Jammu & Kashmir tours. Experience the rugged landscapes, monasteries, and unique culture of this high-altitude desert.

Tips for Traveling to Jammu & Kashmir

Best Time to Visit: The ideal time to visit Kashmir is during the summer months (April to October) when the weather is pleasant. For snow lovers, winter (December to February) is perfect.

Pack Wisely: Carry warm clothing, especially if you’re visiting during winter. Don’t forget comfortable shoes for trekking and sightseeing.

Respect Local Culture: Jammu & Kashmir has a rich cultural heritage. Be respectful of local customs and traditions.

Stay Connected: While most areas have good network coverage, it’s a good idea to inform your family about your itinerary, especially if you’re heading to remote areas.

Book Your Dream Vacation with Journey Jive

Jammu & Kashmir is a destination that promises unforgettable experiences, and Journey Jive is here to make your trip seamless and enjoyable. With our customized packages, expert guidance, and excellent customer service, we ensure that your journey is as beautiful as the destination itself. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to explore the paradise on Earth with Journey Jive!

Book your tour package today and embark on a journey of a lifetime!

[jiocabs1]

How to Explore All Attractions in Mussoorie and Sightseeing Taxi Fare

Mussoorie, often called the “Queen of the Hills,” is a picturesque hill station in Uttarakhand, India. With its breathtaking landscapes, colonial charm, and numerous attractions, Mussoorie is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. This guide will help you explore all the major attractions in Mussoorie and provide insights into Mussoorie sightseeing taxi��to make your trip hassle-free.

Top Attractions in Mussoorie

1. Mussoorie Lake

A serene artificial lake offering boating experiences with stunning views of the Doon Valley. Ideal for families and couples looking for a relaxing time.

2. Bhatta Falls

A lesser-known but beautiful waterfall, perfect for nature lovers. You can reach here by a short trek or take a cable car ride.

3. George Everest House

The former home of Sir George Everest, this spot provides panoramic views of the Himalayas and the Doon Valley. It’s an excellent place for photography and hiking.

4. Cloud’s End

Located at the extreme end of Mussoorie, this tranquil place offers dense forest trails and mesmerizing sunrise and sunset views.

5. Company Garden

A beautifully maintained garden with fountains, flower beds, and a small amusement park, ideal for families with children.

6. Buddha Temple & Dalai Hills

Situated near Happy Valley, this Buddhist monastery and the scenic Dalai Hills provide a peaceful retreat with stunning valley views.

7. Gun Hill

The second-highest peak in Mussoorie, accessible via a short ropeway ride or a trek. Gun Hill offers panoramic views of the Himalayan ranges.

8. Kempty Falls

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Mussoorie, this waterfall is perfect for swimming and picnics.

9. Camel’s Back Road

A 3 km long road offering a scenic walk with rock formations resembling a camel’s back. Ideal for morning and evening strolls.

10. Lal Tibba

The highest point in Mussoorie, offering mesmerizing views of snow-clad Himalayan peaks. A telescope is available for a closer look at the mountains.

11. Mall Road

The bustling center of Mussoorie with numerous shops, cafes, and restaurants. Perfect for shopping, dining, and soaking in the local culture.

How to Explore Mussoorie?

1. Walking and Trekking

Many attractions, such as Mall Road, Camel’s Back Road, and Gun Hill, are best explored on foot. Walking allows you to soak in the beauty and peaceful ambiance of Mussoorie.

2. Cable Car & Ropeway

Gun Hill Ropeway: ₹100-₹150 per person (round trip)

Bhatta Falls Cable Car: ₹150-₹200 per person (round trip)

3. Rental Scooters & Bikes

For solo travelers and couples, renting a scooter or bike is a great option. Prices start from ₹500 per day, excluding fuel costs.

4. Private Taxi Services

Hiring a taxi is the most convenient way to explore all major attractions comfortably.

Mussoorie Sightseeing Taxi Fare

Taxi fares depend on the vehicle type, number of places covered, and duration of the trip. Here’s a general idea of the fares:

Half-Day Sightseeing (4–5 hours)

Hatchback (Alto, WagonR): ₹2,000 — ₹2,500

Sedan (Swift Dzire, Etios): ₹2,500 — ₹3,000

SUV (Innova, Ertiga): ₹3,500 — ₹4,500

Full-Day Sightseeing (8–10 hours)

Hatchback: ₹3,000 — ₹3,500

Sedan: ₹3,500 — ₹4,500

SUV: ₹5,000 — ₹6,000

Popular Sightseeing Taxi Packages

Kempty Falls, Gun Hill, Mall Road, Lal Tibba, Camel’s Back Road: ₹3,500 — ₹4,500 (full day)

Bhatta Falls, George Everest, Cloud’s End, Buddha Temple, Dalai Hills: ₹3,000 — ₹4,000 (full day)

Mussoorie Lake, Company Garden, Mall Road, Camel’s Back Road: ₹2,500 — ₹3,500 (half-day)

Prices may vary based on season, demand, and taxi service provider. It’s advisable to book in advance to get the best rates.

Best Time to Visit Mussoorie

Summer (March to June): Pleasant weather, ideal for sightseeing and adventure activities.

Monsoon (July to September): Lush greenery but frequent landslides make travel risky.

Winter (October to February): Snowfall and chilly weather make it a perfect winter getaway.

Final Tips for Exploring Mussoorie

Start your day early to cover maximum attractions.

Hire a local guide for a richer travel experience.

Check taxi rates in advance and negotiate for the best deal.

Carry cash as ATMs may not be easily accessible in remote areas.

Wear comfortable shoes for walking and trekking.

With this guide, you’re all set to explore the magical hill station of Mussoorie. Whether you choose to walk, take a cable car, or hire a taxi, you’ll be mesmerized by the breathtaking landscapes and charming attractions of this beautiful destination.

[tameblog]

Cornus capitata I’ve yet to meet a dogwood I don’t like, but evergreen dogwoods (Cornus capitata) have a special place in my heart. These stately trees have foliage that persists year-round, plus glorious flowers in the spring followed by edible fruits. The evergreen dogwood hits all the right notes for me. Evergreen dogwoods can grow up to 50 feet tall and wide, or even wider, though there are cultivated hybrids available in different shapes and sizes. C. capitata blooms later in the season than native dogwoods, and the species is hardy only in Zones 8 and 9, though some subspecies are hardier. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking for a tree to punctuate your garden, want an ornamental that produces edible fruits, or you need a cute shrub that will add long-lasting flowers to the landscape, C. capitata can do it all. Our guide to growing dogwoods covers general care of species in the Cornus genus. This guide zeros in on the evergreen species. There’s a lot to know and love about this plant, so here’s what we’ll cover: Evergreen dogwoods originated in the Himalayas in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also commonly known as Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan flowering dogwood, and Himalayan strawberry-tree, and were formerly classified as Benthamidia capitata. The elliptic or lanceolate, leathery leaves are dark green on top, and grayish-green with a fuzzy coating made up of flattened hairs on the undersides. They can be up to five inches long. Though you see it less often than you would with deciduous trees, the bark is pretty, too. It’s dark, almost blackish-gray. All the young shoots are covered in downy hairs. Quick Look Common name(s): Evergreen dogwood, Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan strawberry-tree Plant type: Evergreen tree or shrub Hardiness (USDA Zone): 6-9 (depending on variety) Native to: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan Bloom time / season: Spring flowers, fall fruits Exposure: Full to part sun Soil type: Organically-rch, well draining Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral Time to maturity: 10 years Mature size: 20-5- ft wide x 20-50 ft high (depending on variety) Best uses: Bird garden, edible, naturalized areas, shrub, specimen, groupings, woodland garden Taxonomy Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Species: Capitata Though it’s evergreen, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up fabulous fall foliage as the leaves usually turn a pretty purplish-red come autumn. Of course, part of what we love best about most dogwoods are the flowers. In the case of C. capitata, they bloom in the early summer with white, yellow, or pale green bracts. After the blooms fade, they’re followed by pink, strawberry-like edible fruits. The flavor of the fruits ranges from sweet and fruity like a mango to downright bland. I think they’re a lot like persimmons in that you have to let them get nice and ripe for the best flavor. After you remove the seeds, you can eat them fresh or use them in sugary desserts or as an interesting addition to savory dishes like fish or pork. The pretty white flowers are actually colorful bracts, which are modified leaves. If you look closely at the center of the four to six bracts, you’ll see a cluster of dozens of tiny flowers in a hemispherical mass. When the flowers fade, this mass becomes a small green ball that eventually matures into the golfball-sized, purple-red berry-like fruit. The flowers tend to peak in June and July and the berries are at their best in October or November. When they are ripe, the birds will come visiting in droves. How to Grow Evergreen dogwoods are ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen tree, but smaller cultivars work well in groupings. They’re also ideal in woodland, Japanese, and English gardens. If you’re trying to create a naturalized area or a bird-friendly garden, this species should be top of your list. Since the fruit is edible, they’re perfect for growing in food forests and edible ornamental gardens. When evergreen dogwoods are happy, they’ll bloom profusely. When they’re not, they won’t blossom well. That’s your hint to try and figure out what’s going on. Typically, the cause is either temperatures that are too hot or too cold, or not enough water. In the right conditions, evergreen dogwoods can grow up to three feet per year, but most grow a bit slower than that. Let’s have a look at their cultural requirements: Climate Even though these trees are hardy in Zones 8 and 9, they don’t typically do well in the heat and humidity of the south. Evergreen dogwoods work well as windbreaks as they aren’t susceptible to wind damage. They’re also tolerant of salty wind coming in off the ocean, so you can even grow them in coastal areas. While usually evergreen, the trees might drop their leaves during the winter in the colder end of their hardiness range. If you live in such an area, try growing your evergreen dogwood against a southern-facing brick or cement wall, which creates a microclimate and will reflect the sun’s heat during the winter and keep the tree just a bit warmer. The leaves that change color will typically drop in the spring. Light Plant your evergreen dogwood in full sun or partial sun. In hot climates, shade in the afternoon is a necessity. Soil You should also look for a spot with organically-rich, well-draining soil. Neutral to slightly acidic is best, though they’ll tolerate a little alkalinity. On the pH scale, aim for 5.5 to 7.0. Avoid planting evergreen dogwoods in heavy clay or extremely sandy soil. Water The soil should stay consistently moist or just the top inch or two be allowed to dry out. You’ll need to pay special attention during the heat of summer to keep the soil from drying out. Fertilizing Don’t feed young evergreen dogwoods at all. They should have all they need from the soil and we don’t want to encourage them to grow too rapidly. After the tree has been in the ground for a year or two, test your soil. You might find that your soil has everything it needs to keep your plants happy. If the soil test reveals specific deficiencies, find an appropriate fertilizer. Use it according to the manufacturer’s directions, or feed in the spring as the flowers bud out and again in the summer after flowering. If you opt to skip the soil test, feed in the spring and summer with a product formulated for trees. One of my favorites is Down to Earth Tree and Shrub. It’s made from feather meal, fish bone, kelp meal, soybean meal, and rock phosphate with the right NPK ratio of 4-2-4 for young trees. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub It also contains mycorrhizal fungi, which helps roots develop. You can find Down to Earth Tree and Shrub in five- or 25-pound packages at Arbico Organics. Cultivars to Select There aren’t many evergreen dogwood cultivars out there and just a few subspecies, but for those outside of Zones 8 and 9, it’s definitely worth watching for them since they’re all hardier than the species. Chinese C. capitata subsp. angustata grows to about half the size of the species as a large shrub or small tree. It tops out at about 20 feet tall and wide. It can be a bit more floriferous than the species, but besides the size and hardiness, it’s fairly similar in all other ways. It’s hardy in Zones 7 and up, though you can keep it in 6b if you plant it against a south-facing brick wall. Happenstance ‘Happenstance’ is an impressive bloomer that is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. In Zone 6, it might act as a semi-evergreen, but regardless of the Zone it will bloom like a dream. It’s the perfect size for a smaller garden or even a container, since it tops out at about 20 feet, though it takes decades to get there. Mt. Emei C. capitata subsp. emeiensis (sometimes called C. omeiensis) is slightly hardier than the species, growing in Zones 7 to 9. The flowers are cream-colored, highlighted against leaves that emerge as copper before turning green. It’s very similar to the species, so if you live in a colder area and long for your own evergreen dogwood, look for this one. Mountain Moon This is the most popular evergreen dogwood cultivar out there and the one you’ll find at more stores. That’s because it’s much more cold-tolerant than the species. Plus, it maintains a nice size for most gardens, growing up to 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide in Zones 5 to 8. The flowers are also larger than the species, the bracts reaching up to six inches in diameter. Coupled with their bright white coloring, you could easily imagine them shining bright like a Himalayan full moon. The blooms can last throughout late spring and almost to midsummer. Yoko ‘Yoko’ is a hard to find but extremely hardy cultivar, growing up to 20 feet tall. It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 without any trouble. Pruning You don’t have to prune your evergreen dogwood unless a branch breaks or you notice signs of disease. Otherwise, feel free to leave it to its own devices. If you really want to get in there and give it some shape, it responds well to pruning. Prune back to the nearest branch or trunk wherever you want to thin the area out or take back some length. Don’t apply any sealant to the cut area. The tree will heal itself. Propagation The fruits produce seeds that you can use to propagate new evergreen dogwoods. You can also take cuttings from existing specimens. Let’s talk about seeds, first: From Seed If you’d like to start this plant from seed, that’s certainly an option. It will take a while before the tree matures and you can’t grow cultivars or hybrids from seed. Well, you can, but they probably won’t grow true. You can purchase seeds, but it’s fun to try harvesting your own. The seeds are on the inside of the berry. There’s usually one per fruit but in some cases there can be multiple. When the fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground and generally they’ll be nabbed by animals pretty quickly. So if you want to harvest seeds, the best thing to do is shake the tree and pick up those that fall. As a funny aside, I have a rabbit that has made its home in my backyard who we have named Mr. Hops. One time when I was shaking my dogwood, he came bounding out to grab some of the bounty before realizing I was there and hightailing it back to his burrow. So, yeah. Your local wildlife loves the berries. When you have some ripe fruits, open them up and pull out the seeds. There will be some pulp attached. The easiest way to get rid of this is to toss the seeds into a bowl of lukewarm water. Let them soak overnight and then rub the seeds in a colander to remove the rest of the pulp. Next you can either lay them out on a cookie sheet in a cool, protected area out of direct sun and shake the tray once a day to let them dry, or you can sow them right away. If you sow in the fall, put them in the ground about a quarter of an inch deep and place a little screen or other material over the ground to protect the seed from birds. You can also sow in the spring, but to do this you’ll need to cold-stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for eight weeks. The seeds should be put in moist sphagnum moss in a bag or container and then placed in the refrigerator. It helps to mark the date that you put the seeds into stratification. When you’re ready to sow, put the seeds in the ground and keep the soil moist. Within a month, you should see some growth beginning to emerge. You might want to put a little wire cage around the seedling to protect it from hungry critters. From Cuttings Most dogwood species propagate well by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. To do this, head outside during the spring or early summer and cut the end off a branch. The cutting should be about six inches long with lots of growth. It should have several leaf nodes and the wood should be pliable and able to bend a bit. Make the cut with sterilized clippers just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves except the top two and dip the end in rooting hormone.  Fill a four-inch container with seed starting medium and place the cutting an inch or two deep in the potting medium. Place the cutting in a spot outdoors with morning light and keep the medium moist at all times. Leave it in the growing container until the fall and then plant your cutting in the ground a few weeks before the first predicted frost date. Transplanting You can plant your evergreen dogwood in the spring or fall. Prepare the ground by digging out a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the growing container. Work a good amount of well-rotted compost or manure into the removed soil. Fill in the hole leaving a space about the size of the container. Remove the tree from the container and loosen up the roots a little. Set the plant in the hole and backfill around it with some more of that removed soil. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally. Water the soil well. It will probably settle a little and you’ll need to add a bit more soil. Managing Pests and Disease Anthracnose has devastated dogwood trees in some areas. But evergreen dogwoods appear to be resistant to this horrendous disease. If you’re dreaming of a dogwood and you know that anthracnose has been an issue in your area, try an evergreen. You’ll probably have more problems with herbivores than insects and disease, so let’s cover those, first. Herbivores Young trees are vulnerable to feeding by rabbits and deer, but older trees aren’t in any danger. Deer might nibble a fruit or young leaf during the winter, but the trees aren’t a primary target. Just put a little fence or cage around young plants and they’ll be fine. Insects Unless your dogwood is stressed by issues like extended drought, overwatering, or too much shade, pests won’t be a problem. While borers, midges, sawflies, and scale can spell disaster for some Cornus species, this one is largely unbothered. Still, you might want to familiarize yourself with these dogwood pests, just in case you ever encounter them. Disease The vast majority of gardeners will never have any disease issues with an evergreen dogwood. However, be aware that leaf spot caused by Phytophthora ramorum was found in nursery trees in California in 2023. That likely means that this disease will continue to spread in the future. But for now, it’s extremely rare. Leaf spot causes brown, irregularly shaped spots on the foliage that can be up to a third of an inch in diameter. If you see these symptoms, contact your local university extension office and report the disease or bring in a sample. Many states are interested in tracking the movement of this disease. Theoretically, all dogwoods are susceptible to anthracnose, but evergreen dogwoods are resistant. They are rarely troubled by the Discula destructiva fungus that can massacre other Cornus species. The disease shows up as brown or tan spots with red or purple margins on the leaves and flowers, followed by sunken cankers in the wood. If your tree were to be one of the rare ones that becomes symptomatic, you can usually get on top of the disease if you act quickly. Prune off symptomatic branches and spray liberally with liquid copper, but it’s a tough disease to cure. Other than that, so long as you didn’t plant yours in a swamp or something, your tree shouldn’t be subject to any diseases. Our guide to dogwood diseases makes sobering reading if you are feeling pessimistic. A Dogwood With Evergreen Elegance Dogwoods are some of my favorite trees. I don’t think a garden is complete without at least one type. And while I adore the more popular flowering dogwood (C. florida), it just won’t work in an area of the landscape where I need some evergreen color. But C. capitata gives me all the beauty of other flowering dogwoods without losing its foliage in the fall. I planted mine along a roadway where I wanted to increase the privacy of my yard a little. What about you? How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below! And for more information about growing dogwoods in your landscape, have a read of these guides next: © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Arbico Organics. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '176410929431717'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link

[ramestoryworld]

Cornus capitata I’ve yet to meet a dogwood I don’t like, but evergreen dogwoods (Cornus capitata) have a special place in my heart. These stately trees have foliage that persists year-round, plus glorious flowers in the spring followed by edible fruits. The evergreen dogwood hits all the right notes for me. Evergreen dogwoods can grow up to 50 feet tall and wide, or even wider, though there are cultivated hybrids available in different shapes and sizes. C. capitata blooms later in the season than native dogwoods, and the species is hardy only in Zones 8 and 9, though some subspecies are hardier. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking for a tree to punctuate your garden, want an ornamental that produces edible fruits, or you need a cute shrub that will add long-lasting flowers to the landscape, C. capitata can do it all. Our guide to growing dogwoods covers general care of species in the Cornus genus. This guide zeros in on the evergreen species. There’s a lot to know and love about this plant, so here’s what we’ll cover: Evergreen dogwoods originated in the Himalayas in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also commonly known as Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan flowering dogwood, and Himalayan strawberry-tree, and were formerly classified as Benthamidia capitata. The elliptic or lanceolate, leathery leaves are dark green on top, and grayish-green with a fuzzy coating made up of flattened hairs on the undersides. They can be up to five inches long. Though you see it less often than you would with deciduous trees, the bark is pretty, too. It’s dark, almost blackish-gray. All the young shoots are covered in downy hairs. Quick Look Common name(s): Evergreen dogwood, Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan strawberry-tree Plant type: Evergreen tree or shrub Hardiness (USDA Zone): 6-9 (depending on variety) Native to: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan Bloom time / season: Spring flowers, fall fruits Exposure: Full to part sun Soil type: Organically-rch, well draining Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral Time to maturity: 10 years Mature size: 20-5- ft wide x 20-50 ft high (depending on variety) Best uses: Bird garden, edible, naturalized areas, shrub, specimen, groupings, woodland garden Taxonomy Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Species: Capitata Though it’s evergreen, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up fabulous fall foliage as the leaves usually turn a pretty purplish-red come autumn. Of course, part of what we love best about most dogwoods are the flowers. In the case of C. capitata, they bloom in the early summer with white, yellow, or pale green bracts. After the blooms fade, they’re followed by pink, strawberry-like edible fruits. The flavor of the fruits ranges from sweet and fruity like a mango to downright bland. I think they’re a lot like persimmons in that you have to let them get nice and ripe for the best flavor. After you remove the seeds, you can eat them fresh or use them in sugary desserts or as an interesting addition to savory dishes like fish or pork. The pretty white flowers are actually colorful bracts, which are modified leaves. If you look closely at the center of the four to six bracts, you’ll see a cluster of dozens of tiny flowers in a hemispherical mass. When the flowers fade, this mass becomes a small green ball that eventually matures into the golfball-sized, purple-red berry-like fruit. The flowers tend to peak in June and July and the berries are at their best in October or November. When they are ripe, the birds will come visiting in droves. How to Grow Evergreen dogwoods are ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen tree, but smaller cultivars work well in groupings. They’re also ideal in woodland, Japanese, and English gardens. If you’re trying to create a naturalized area or a bird-friendly garden, this species should be top of your list. Since the fruit is edible, they’re perfect for growing in food forests and edible ornamental gardens. When evergreen dogwoods are happy, they’ll bloom profusely. When they’re not, they won’t blossom well. That’s your hint to try and figure out what’s going on. Typically, the cause is either temperatures that are too hot or too cold, or not enough water. In the right conditions, evergreen dogwoods can grow up to three feet per year, but most grow a bit slower than that. Let’s have a look at their cultural requirements: Climate Even though these trees are hardy in Zones 8 and 9, they don’t typically do well in the heat and humidity of the south. Evergreen dogwoods work well as windbreaks as they aren’t susceptible to wind damage. They’re also tolerant of salty wind coming in off the ocean, so you can even grow them in coastal areas. While usually evergreen, the trees might drop their leaves during the winter in the colder end of their hardiness range. If you live in such an area, try growing your evergreen dogwood against a southern-facing brick or cement wall, which creates a microclimate and will reflect the sun’s heat during the winter and keep the tree just a bit warmer. The leaves that change color will typically drop in the spring. Light Plant your evergreen dogwood in full sun or partial sun. In hot climates, shade in the afternoon is a necessity. Soil You should also look for a spot with organically-rich, well-draining soil. Neutral to slightly acidic is best, though they’ll tolerate a little alkalinity. On the pH scale, aim for 5.5 to 7.0. Avoid planting evergreen dogwoods in heavy clay or extremely sandy soil. Water The soil should stay consistently moist or just the top inch or two be allowed to dry out. You’ll need to pay special attention during the heat of summer to keep the soil from drying out. Fertilizing Don’t feed young evergreen dogwoods at all. They should have all they need from the soil and we don’t want to encourage them to grow too rapidly. After the tree has been in the ground for a year or two, test your soil. You might find that your soil has everything it needs to keep your plants happy. If the soil test reveals specific deficiencies, find an appropriate fertilizer. Use it according to the manufacturer’s directions, or feed in the spring as the flowers bud out and again in the summer after flowering. If you opt to skip the soil test, feed in the spring and summer with a product formulated for trees. One of my favorites is Down to Earth Tree and Shrub. It’s made from feather meal, fish bone, kelp meal, soybean meal, and rock phosphate with the right NPK ratio of 4-2-4 for young trees. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub It also contains mycorrhizal fungi, which helps roots develop. You can find Down to Earth Tree and Shrub in five- or 25-pound packages at Arbico Organics. Cultivars to Select There aren’t many evergreen dogwood cultivars out there and just a few subspecies, but for those outside of Zones 8 and 9, it’s definitely worth watching for them since they’re all hardier than the species. Chinese C. capitata subsp. angustata grows to about half the size of the species as a large shrub or small tree. It tops out at about 20 feet tall and wide. It can be a bit more floriferous than the species, but besides the size and hardiness, it’s fairly similar in all other ways. It’s hardy in Zones 7 and up, though you can keep it in 6b if you plant it against a south-facing brick wall. Happenstance ‘Happenstance’ is an impressive bloomer that is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. In Zone 6, it might act as a semi-evergreen, but regardless of the Zone it will bloom like a dream. It’s the perfect size for a smaller garden or even a container, since it tops out at about 20 feet, though it takes decades to get there. Mt. Emei C. capitata subsp. emeiensis (sometimes called C. omeiensis) is slightly hardier than the species, growing in Zones 7 to 9. The flowers are cream-colored, highlighted against leaves that emerge as copper before turning green. It’s very similar to the species, so if you live in a colder area and long for your own evergreen dogwood, look for this one. Mountain Moon This is the most popular evergreen dogwood cultivar out there and the one you’ll find at more stores. That’s because it’s much more cold-tolerant than the species. Plus, it maintains a nice size for most gardens, growing up to 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide in Zones 5 to 8. The flowers are also larger than the species, the bracts reaching up to six inches in diameter. Coupled with their bright white coloring, you could easily imagine them shining bright like a Himalayan full moon. The blooms can last throughout late spring and almost to midsummer. Yoko ‘Yoko’ is a hard to find but extremely hardy cultivar, growing up to 20 feet tall. It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 without any trouble. Pruning You don’t have to prune your evergreen dogwood unless a branch breaks or you notice signs of disease. Otherwise, feel free to leave it to its own devices. If you really want to get in there and give it some shape, it responds well to pruning. Prune back to the nearest branch or trunk wherever you want to thin the area out or take back some length. Don’t apply any sealant to the cut area. The tree will heal itself. Propagation The fruits produce seeds that you can use to propagate new evergreen dogwoods. You can also take cuttings from existing specimens. Let’s talk about seeds, first: From Seed If you’d like to start this plant from seed, that’s certainly an option. It will take a while before the tree matures and you can’t grow cultivars or hybrids from seed. Well, you can, but they probably won’t grow true. You can purchase seeds, but it’s fun to try harvesting your own. The seeds are on the inside of the berry. There’s usually one per fruit but in some cases there can be multiple. When the fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground and generally they’ll be nabbed by animals pretty quickly. So if you want to harvest seeds, the best thing to do is shake the tree and pick up those that fall. As a funny aside, I have a rabbit that has made its home in my backyard who we have named Mr. Hops. One time when I was shaking my dogwood, he came bounding out to grab some of the bounty before realizing I was there and hightailing it back to his burrow. So, yeah. Your local wildlife loves the berries. When you have some ripe fruits, open them up and pull out the seeds. There will be some pulp attached. The easiest way to get rid of this is to toss the seeds into a bowl of lukewarm water. Let them soak overnight and then rub the seeds in a colander to remove the rest of the pulp. Next you can either lay them out on a cookie sheet in a cool, protected area out of direct sun and shake the tray once a day to let them dry, or you can sow them right away. If you sow in the fall, put them in the ground about a quarter of an inch deep and place a little screen or other material over the ground to protect the seed from birds. You can also sow in the spring, but to do this you’ll need to cold-stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for eight weeks. The seeds should be put in moist sphagnum moss in a bag or container and then placed in the refrigerator. It helps to mark the date that you put the seeds into stratification. When you’re ready to sow, put the seeds in the ground and keep the soil moist. Within a month, you should see some growth beginning to emerge. You might want to put a little wire cage around the seedling to protect it from hungry critters. From Cuttings Most dogwood species propagate well by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. To do this, head outside during the spring or early summer and cut the end off a branch. The cutting should be about six inches long with lots of growth. It should have several leaf nodes and the wood should be pliable and able to bend a bit. Make the cut with sterilized clippers just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves except the top two and dip the end in rooting hormone.  Fill a four-inch container with seed starting medium and place the cutting an inch or two deep in the potting medium. Place the cutting in a spot outdoors with morning light and keep the medium moist at all times. Leave it in the growing container until the fall and then plant your cutting in the ground a few weeks before the first predicted frost date. Transplanting You can plant your evergreen dogwood in the spring or fall. Prepare the ground by digging out a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the growing container. Work a good amount of well-rotted compost or manure into the removed soil. Fill in the hole leaving a space about the size of the container. Remove the tree from the container and loosen up the roots a little. Set the plant in the hole and backfill around it with some more of that removed soil. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally. Water the soil well. It will probably settle a little and you’ll need to add a bit more soil. Managing Pests and Disease Anthracnose has devastated dogwood trees in some areas. But evergreen dogwoods appear to be resistant to this horrendous disease. If you’re dreaming of a dogwood and you know that anthracnose has been an issue in your area, try an evergreen. You’ll probably have more problems with herbivores than insects and disease, so let’s cover those, first. Herbivores Young trees are vulnerable to feeding by rabbits and deer, but older trees aren’t in any danger. Deer might nibble a fruit or young leaf during the winter, but the trees aren’t a primary target. Just put a little fence or cage around young plants and they’ll be fine. Insects Unless your dogwood is stressed by issues like extended drought, overwatering, or too much shade, pests won’t be a problem. While borers, midges, sawflies, and scale can spell disaster for some Cornus species, this one is largely unbothered. Still, you might want to familiarize yourself with these dogwood pests, just in case you ever encounter them. Disease The vast majority of gardeners will never have any disease issues with an evergreen dogwood. However, be aware that leaf spot caused by Phytophthora ramorum was found in nursery trees in California in 2023. That likely means that this disease will continue to spread in the future. But for now, it’s extremely rare. Leaf spot causes brown, irregularly shaped spots on the foliage that can be up to a third of an inch in diameter. If you see these symptoms, contact your local university extension office and report the disease or bring in a sample. Many states are interested in tracking the movement of this disease. Theoretically, all dogwoods are susceptible to anthracnose, but evergreen dogwoods are resistant. They are rarely troubled by the Discula destructiva fungus that can massacre other Cornus species. The disease shows up as brown or tan spots with red or purple margins on the leaves and flowers, followed by sunken cankers in the wood. If your tree were to be one of the rare ones that becomes symptomatic, you can usually get on top of the disease if you act quickly. Prune off symptomatic branches and spray liberally with liquid copper, but it’s a tough disease to cure. Other than that, so long as you didn’t plant yours in a swamp or something, your tree shouldn’t be subject to any diseases. Our guide to dogwood diseases makes sobering reading if you are feeling pessimistic. A Dogwood With Evergreen Elegance Dogwoods are some of my favorite trees. I don’t think a garden is complete without at least one type. And while I adore the more popular flowering dogwood (C. florida), it just won’t work in an area of the landscape where I need some evergreen color. But C. capitata gives me all the beauty of other flowering dogwoods without losing its foliage in the fall. I planted mine along a roadway where I wanted to increase the privacy of my yard a little. What about you? How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below! And for more information about growing dogwoods in your landscape, have a read of these guides next: © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Arbico Organics. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '176410929431717'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link

[alexha2210]

Cornus capitata I’ve yet to meet a dogwood I don’t like, but evergreen dogwoods (Cornus capitata) have a special place in my heart. These stately trees have foliage that persists year-round, plus glorious flowers in the spring followed by edible fruits. The evergreen dogwood hits all the right notes for me. Evergreen dogwoods can grow up to 50 feet tall and wide, or even wider, though there are cultivated hybrids available in different shapes and sizes. C. capitata blooms later in the season than native dogwoods, and the species is hardy only in Zones 8 and 9, though some subspecies are hardier. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking for a tree to punctuate your garden, want an ornamental that produces edible fruits, or you need a cute shrub that will add long-lasting flowers to the landscape, C. capitata can do it all. Our guide to growing dogwoods covers general care of species in the Cornus genus. This guide zeros in on the evergreen species. There’s a lot to know and love about this plant, so here’s what we’ll cover: Evergreen dogwoods originated in the Himalayas in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also commonly known as Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan flowering dogwood, and Himalayan strawberry-tree, and were formerly classified as Benthamidia capitata. The elliptic or lanceolate, leathery leaves are dark green on top, and grayish-green with a fuzzy coating made up of flattened hairs on the undersides. They can be up to five inches long. Though you see it less often than you would with deciduous trees, the bark is pretty, too. It’s dark, almost blackish-gray. All the young shoots are covered in downy hairs. Quick Look Common name(s): Evergreen dogwood, Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan strawberry-tree Plant type: Evergreen tree or shrub Hardiness (USDA Zone): 6-9 (depending on variety) Native to: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan Bloom time / season: Spring flowers, fall fruits Exposure: Full to part sun Soil type: Organically-rch, well draining Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral Time to maturity: 10 years Mature size: 20-5- ft wide x 20-50 ft high (depending on variety) Best uses: Bird garden, edible, naturalized areas, shrub, specimen, groupings, woodland garden Taxonomy Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Species: Capitata Though it’s evergreen, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up fabulous fall foliage as the leaves usually turn a pretty purplish-red come autumn. Of course, part of what we love best about most dogwoods are the flowers. In the case of C. capitata, they bloom in the early summer with white, yellow, or pale green bracts. After the blooms fade, they’re followed by pink, strawberry-like edible fruits. The flavor of the fruits ranges from sweet and fruity like a mango to downright bland. I think they’re a lot like persimmons in that you have to let them get nice and ripe for the best flavor. After you remove the seeds, you can eat them fresh or use them in sugary desserts or as an interesting addition to savory dishes like fish or pork. The pretty white flowers are actually colorful bracts, which are modified leaves. If you look closely at the center of the four to six bracts, you’ll see a cluster of dozens of tiny flowers in a hemispherical mass. When the flowers fade, this mass becomes a small green ball that eventually matures into the golfball-sized, purple-red berry-like fruit. The flowers tend to peak in June and July and the berries are at their best in October or November. When they are ripe, the birds will come visiting in droves. How to Grow Evergreen dogwoods are ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen tree, but smaller cultivars work well in groupings. They’re also ideal in woodland, Japanese, and English gardens. If you’re trying to create a naturalized area or a bird-friendly garden, this species should be top of your list. Since the fruit is edible, they’re perfect for growing in food forests and edible ornamental gardens. When evergreen dogwoods are happy, they’ll bloom profusely. When they’re not, they won’t blossom well. That’s your hint to try and figure out what’s going on. Typically, the cause is either temperatures that are too hot or too cold, or not enough water. In the right conditions, evergreen dogwoods can grow up to three feet per year, but most grow a bit slower than that. Let’s have a look at their cultural requirements: Climate Even though these trees are hardy in Zones 8 and 9, they don’t typically do well in the heat and humidity of the south. Evergreen dogwoods work well as windbreaks as they aren’t susceptible to wind damage. They’re also tolerant of salty wind coming in off the ocean, so you can even grow them in coastal areas. While usually evergreen, the trees might drop their leaves during the winter in the colder end of their hardiness range. If you live in such an area, try growing your evergreen dogwood against a southern-facing brick or cement wall, which creates a microclimate and will reflect the sun’s heat during the winter and keep the tree just a bit warmer. The leaves that change color will typically drop in the spring. Light Plant your evergreen dogwood in full sun or partial sun. In hot climates, shade in the afternoon is a necessity. Soil You should also look for a spot with organically-rich, well-draining soil. Neutral to slightly acidic is best, though they’ll tolerate a little alkalinity. On the pH scale, aim for 5.5 to 7.0. Avoid planting evergreen dogwoods in heavy clay or extremely sandy soil. Water The soil should stay consistently moist or just the top inch or two be allowed to dry out. You’ll need to pay special attention during the heat of summer to keep the soil from drying out. Fertilizing Don’t feed young evergreen dogwoods at all. They should have all they need from the soil and we don’t want to encourage them to grow too rapidly. After the tree has been in the ground for a year or two, test your soil. You might find that your soil has everything it needs to keep your plants happy. If the soil test reveals specific deficiencies, find an appropriate fertilizer. Use it according to the manufacturer’s directions, or feed in the spring as the flowers bud out and again in the summer after flowering. If you opt to skip the soil test, feed in the spring and summer with a product formulated for trees. One of my favorites is Down to Earth Tree and Shrub. It’s made from feather meal, fish bone, kelp meal, soybean meal, and rock phosphate with the right NPK ratio of 4-2-4 for young trees. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub It also contains mycorrhizal fungi, which helps roots develop. You can find Down to Earth Tree and Shrub in five- or 25-pound packages at Arbico Organics. Cultivars to Select There aren’t many evergreen dogwood cultivars out there and just a few subspecies, but for those outside of Zones 8 and 9, it’s definitely worth watching for them since they’re all hardier than the species. Chinese C. capitata subsp. angustata grows to about half the size of the species as a large shrub or small tree. It tops out at about 20 feet tall and wide. It can be a bit more floriferous than the species, but besides the size and hardiness, it’s fairly similar in all other ways. It’s hardy in Zones 7 and up, though you can keep it in 6b if you plant it against a south-facing brick wall. Happenstance ‘Happenstance’ is an impressive bloomer that is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. In Zone 6, it might act as a semi-evergreen, but regardless of the Zone it will bloom like a dream. It’s the perfect size for a smaller garden or even a container, since it tops out at about 20 feet, though it takes decades to get there. Mt. Emei C. capitata subsp. emeiensis (sometimes called C. omeiensis) is slightly hardier than the species, growing in Zones 7 to 9. The flowers are cream-colored, highlighted against leaves that emerge as copper before turning green. It’s very similar to the species, so if you live in a colder area and long for your own evergreen dogwood, look for this one. Mountain Moon This is the most popular evergreen dogwood cultivar out there and the one you’ll find at more stores. That’s because it’s much more cold-tolerant than the species. Plus, it maintains a nice size for most gardens, growing up to 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide in Zones 5 to 8. The flowers are also larger than the species, the bracts reaching up to six inches in diameter. Coupled with their bright white coloring, you could easily imagine them shining bright like a Himalayan full moon. The blooms can last throughout late spring and almost to midsummer. Yoko ‘Yoko’ is a hard to find but extremely hardy cultivar, growing up to 20 feet tall. It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 without any trouble. Pruning You don’t have to prune your evergreen dogwood unless a branch breaks or you notice signs of disease. Otherwise, feel free to leave it to its own devices. If you really want to get in there and give it some shape, it responds well to pruning. Prune back to the nearest branch or trunk wherever you want to thin the area out or take back some length. Don’t apply any sealant to the cut area. The tree will heal itself. Propagation The fruits produce seeds that you can use to propagate new evergreen dogwoods. You can also take cuttings from existing specimens. Let’s talk about seeds, first: From Seed If you’d like to start this plant from seed, that’s certainly an option. It will take a while before the tree matures and you can’t grow cultivars or hybrids from seed. Well, you can, but they probably won’t grow true. You can purchase seeds, but it’s fun to try harvesting your own. The seeds are on the inside of the berry. There’s usually one per fruit but in some cases there can be multiple. When the fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground and generally they’ll be nabbed by animals pretty quickly. So if you want to harvest seeds, the best thing to do is shake the tree and pick up those that fall. As a funny aside, I have a rabbit that has made its home in my backyard who we have named Mr. Hops. One time when I was shaking my dogwood, he came bounding out to grab some of the bounty before realizing I was there and hightailing it back to his burrow. So, yeah. Your local wildlife loves the berries. When you have some ripe fruits, open them up and pull out the seeds. There will be some pulp attached. The easiest way to get rid of this is to toss the seeds into a bowl of lukewarm water. Let them soak overnight and then rub the seeds in a colander to remove the rest of the pulp. Next you can either lay them out on a cookie sheet in a cool, protected area out of direct sun and shake the tray once a day to let them dry, or you can sow them right away. If you sow in the fall, put them in the ground about a quarter of an inch deep and place a little screen or other material over the ground to protect the seed from birds. You can also sow in the spring, but to do this you’ll need to cold-stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for eight weeks. The seeds should be put in moist sphagnum moss in a bag or container and then placed in the refrigerator. It helps to mark the date that you put the seeds into stratification. When you’re ready to sow, put the seeds in the ground and keep the soil moist. Within a month, you should see some growth beginning to emerge. You might want to put a little wire cage around the seedling to protect it from hungry critters. From Cuttings Most dogwood species propagate well by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. To do this, head outside during the spring or early summer and cut the end off a branch. The cutting should be about six inches long with lots of growth. It should have several leaf nodes and the wood should be pliable and able to bend a bit. Make the cut with sterilized clippers just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves except the top two and dip the end in rooting hormone.  Fill a four-inch container with seed starting medium and place the cutting an inch or two deep in the potting medium. Place the cutting in a spot outdoors with morning light and keep the medium moist at all times. Leave it in the growing container until the fall and then plant your cutting in the ground a few weeks before the first predicted frost date. Transplanting You can plant your evergreen dogwood in the spring or fall. Prepare the ground by digging out a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the growing container. Work a good amount of well-rotted compost or manure into the removed soil. Fill in the hole leaving a space about the size of the container. Remove the tree from the container and loosen up the roots a little. Set the plant in the hole and backfill around it with some more of that removed soil. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally. Water the soil well. It will probably settle a little and you’ll need to add a bit more soil. Managing Pests and Disease Anthracnose has devastated dogwood trees in some areas. But evergreen dogwoods appear to be resistant to this horrendous disease. If you’re dreaming of a dogwood and you know that anthracnose has been an issue in your area, try an evergreen. You’ll probably have more problems with herbivores than insects and disease, so let’s cover those, first. Herbivores Young trees are vulnerable to feeding by rabbits and deer, but older trees aren’t in any danger. Deer might nibble a fruit or young leaf during the winter, but the trees aren’t a primary target. Just put a little fence or cage around young plants and they’ll be fine. Insects Unless your dogwood is stressed by issues like extended drought, overwatering, or too much shade, pests won’t be a problem. While borers, midges, sawflies, and scale can spell disaster for some Cornus species, this one is largely unbothered. Still, you might want to familiarize yourself with these dogwood pests, just in case you ever encounter them. Disease The vast majority of gardeners will never have any disease issues with an evergreen dogwood. However, be aware that leaf spot caused by Phytophthora ramorum was found in nursery trees in California in 2023. That likely means that this disease will continue to spread in the future. But for now, it’s extremely rare. Leaf spot causes brown, irregularly shaped spots on the foliage that can be up to a third of an inch in diameter. If you see these symptoms, contact your local university extension office and report the disease or bring in a sample. Many states are interested in tracking the movement of this disease. Theoretically, all dogwoods are susceptible to anthracnose, but evergreen dogwoods are resistant. They are rarely troubled by the Discula destructiva fungus that can massacre other Cornus species. The disease shows up as brown or tan spots with red or purple margins on the leaves and flowers, followed by sunken cankers in the wood. If your tree were to be one of the rare ones that becomes symptomatic, you can usually get on top of the disease if you act quickly. Prune off symptomatic branches and spray liberally with liquid copper, but it’s a tough disease to cure. Other than that, so long as you didn’t plant yours in a swamp or something, your tree shouldn’t be subject to any diseases. Our guide to dogwood diseases makes sobering reading if you are feeling pessimistic. A Dogwood With Evergreen Elegance Dogwoods are some of my favorite trees. I don’t think a garden is complete without at least one type. And while I adore the more popular flowering dogwood (C. florida), it just won’t work in an area of the landscape where I need some evergreen color. But C. capitata gives me all the beauty of other flowering dogwoods without losing its foliage in the fall. I planted mine along a roadway where I wanted to increase the privacy of my yard a little. What about you? How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below! And for more information about growing dogwoods in your landscape, have a read of these guides next: © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Arbico Organics. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '176410929431717'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link

[angusstory]

Cornus capitata I’ve yet to meet a dogwood I don’t like, but evergreen dogwoods (Cornus capitata) have a special place in my heart. These stately trees have foliage that persists year-round, plus glorious flowers in the spring followed by edible fruits. The evergreen dogwood hits all the right notes for me. Evergreen dogwoods can grow up to 50 feet tall and wide, or even wider, though there are cultivated hybrids available in different shapes and sizes. C. capitata blooms later in the season than native dogwoods, and the species is hardy only in Zones 8 and 9, though some subspecies are hardier. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking for a tree to punctuate your garden, want an ornamental that produces edible fruits, or you need a cute shrub that will add long-lasting flowers to the landscape, C. capitata can do it all. Our guide to growing dogwoods covers general care of species in the Cornus genus. This guide zeros in on the evergreen species. There’s a lot to know and love about this plant, so here’s what we’ll cover: Evergreen dogwoods originated in the Himalayas in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also commonly known as Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan flowering dogwood, and Himalayan strawberry-tree, and were formerly classified as Benthamidia capitata. The elliptic or lanceolate, leathery leaves are dark green on top, and grayish-green with a fuzzy coating made up of flattened hairs on the undersides. They can be up to five inches long. Though you see it less often than you would with deciduous trees, the bark is pretty, too. It’s dark, almost blackish-gray. All the young shoots are covered in downy hairs. Quick Look Common name(s): Evergreen dogwood, Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan strawberry-tree Plant type: Evergreen tree or shrub Hardiness (USDA Zone): 6-9 (depending on variety) Native to: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan Bloom time / season: Spring flowers, fall fruits Exposure: Full to part sun Soil type: Organically-rch, well draining Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral Time to maturity: 10 years Mature size: 20-5- ft wide x 20-50 ft high (depending on variety) Best uses: Bird garden, edible, naturalized areas, shrub, specimen, groupings, woodland garden Taxonomy Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Species: Capitata Though it’s evergreen, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up fabulous fall foliage as the leaves usually turn a pretty purplish-red come autumn. Of course, part of what we love best about most dogwoods are the flowers. In the case of C. capitata, they bloom in the early summer with white, yellow, or pale green bracts. After the blooms fade, they’re followed by pink, strawberry-like edible fruits. The flavor of the fruits ranges from sweet and fruity like a mango to downright bland. I think they’re a lot like persimmons in that you have to let them get nice and ripe for the best flavor. After you remove the seeds, you can eat them fresh or use them in sugary desserts or as an interesting addition to savory dishes like fish or pork. The pretty white flowers are actually colorful bracts, which are modified leaves. If you look closely at the center of the four to six bracts, you’ll see a cluster of dozens of tiny flowers in a hemispherical mass. When the flowers fade, this mass becomes a small green ball that eventually matures into the golfball-sized, purple-red berry-like fruit. The flowers tend to peak in June and July and the berries are at their best in October or November. When they are ripe, the birds will come visiting in droves. How to Grow Evergreen dogwoods are ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen tree, but smaller cultivars work well in groupings. They’re also ideal in woodland, Japanese, and English gardens. If you’re trying to create a naturalized area or a bird-friendly garden, this species should be top of your list. Since the fruit is edible, they’re perfect for growing in food forests and edible ornamental gardens. When evergreen dogwoods are happy, they’ll bloom profusely. When they’re not, they won’t blossom well. That’s your hint to try and figure out what’s going on. Typically, the cause is either temperatures that are too hot or too cold, or not enough water. In the right conditions, evergreen dogwoods can grow up to three feet per year, but most grow a bit slower than that. Let’s have a look at their cultural requirements: Climate Even though these trees are hardy in Zones 8 and 9, they don’t typically do well in the heat and humidity of the south. Evergreen dogwoods work well as windbreaks as they aren’t susceptible to wind damage. They’re also tolerant of salty wind coming in off the ocean, so you can even grow them in coastal areas. While usually evergreen, the trees might drop their leaves during the winter in the colder end of their hardiness range. If you live in such an area, try growing your evergreen dogwood against a southern-facing brick or cement wall, which creates a microclimate and will reflect the sun’s heat during the winter and keep the tree just a bit warmer. The leaves that change color will typically drop in the spring. Light Plant your evergreen dogwood in full sun or partial sun. In hot climates, shade in the afternoon is a necessity. Soil You should also look for a spot with organically-rich, well-draining soil. Neutral to slightly acidic is best, though they’ll tolerate a little alkalinity. On the pH scale, aim for 5.5 to 7.0. Avoid planting evergreen dogwoods in heavy clay or extremely sandy soil. Water The soil should stay consistently moist or just the top inch or two be allowed to dry out. You’ll need to pay special attention during the heat of summer to keep the soil from drying out. Fertilizing Don’t feed young evergreen dogwoods at all. They should have all they need from the soil and we don’t want to encourage them to grow too rapidly. After the tree has been in the ground for a year or two, test your soil. You might find that your soil has everything it needs to keep your plants happy. If the soil test reveals specific deficiencies, find an appropriate fertilizer. Use it according to the manufacturer’s directions, or feed in the spring as the flowers bud out and again in the summer after flowering. If you opt to skip the soil test, feed in the spring and summer with a product formulated for trees. One of my favorites is Down to Earth Tree and Shrub. It’s made from feather meal, fish bone, kelp meal, soybean meal, and rock phosphate with the right NPK ratio of 4-2-4 for young trees. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub It also contains mycorrhizal fungi, which helps roots develop. You can find Down to Earth Tree and Shrub in five- or 25-pound packages at Arbico Organics. Cultivars to Select There aren’t many evergreen dogwood cultivars out there and just a few subspecies, but for those outside of Zones 8 and 9, it’s definitely worth watching for them since they’re all hardier than the species. Chinese C. capitata subsp. angustata grows to about half the size of the species as a large shrub or small tree. It tops out at about 20 feet tall and wide. It can be a bit more floriferous than the species, but besides the size and hardiness, it’s fairly similar in all other ways. It’s hardy in Zones 7 and up, though you can keep it in 6b if you plant it against a south-facing brick wall. Happenstance ‘Happenstance’ is an impressive bloomer that is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. In Zone 6, it might act as a semi-evergreen, but regardless of the Zone it will bloom like a dream. It’s the perfect size for a smaller garden or even a container, since it tops out at about 20 feet, though it takes decades to get there. Mt. Emei C. capitata subsp. emeiensis (sometimes called C. omeiensis) is slightly hardier than the species, growing in Zones 7 to 9. The flowers are cream-colored, highlighted against leaves that emerge as copper before turning green. It’s very similar to the species, so if you live in a colder area and long for your own evergreen dogwood, look for this one. Mountain Moon This is the most popular evergreen dogwood cultivar out there and the one you’ll find at more stores. That’s because it’s much more cold-tolerant than the species. Plus, it maintains a nice size for most gardens, growing up to 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide in Zones 5 to 8. The flowers are also larger than the species, the bracts reaching up to six inches in diameter. Coupled with their bright white coloring, you could easily imagine them shining bright like a Himalayan full moon. The blooms can last throughout late spring and almost to midsummer. Yoko ‘Yoko’ is a hard to find but extremely hardy cultivar, growing up to 20 feet tall. It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 without any trouble. Pruning You don’t have to prune your evergreen dogwood unless a branch breaks or you notice signs of disease. Otherwise, feel free to leave it to its own devices. If you really want to get in there and give it some shape, it responds well to pruning. Prune back to the nearest branch or trunk wherever you want to thin the area out or take back some length. Don’t apply any sealant to the cut area. The tree will heal itself. Propagation The fruits produce seeds that you can use to propagate new evergreen dogwoods. You can also take cuttings from existing specimens. Let’s talk about seeds, first: From Seed If you’d like to start this plant from seed, that’s certainly an option. It will take a while before the tree matures and you can’t grow cultivars or hybrids from seed. Well, you can, but they probably won’t grow true. You can purchase seeds, but it’s fun to try harvesting your own. The seeds are on the inside of the berry. There’s usually one per fruit but in some cases there can be multiple. When the fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground and generally they’ll be nabbed by animals pretty quickly. So if you want to harvest seeds, the best thing to do is shake the tree and pick up those that fall. As a funny aside, I have a rabbit that has made its home in my backyard who we have named Mr. Hops. One time when I was shaking my dogwood, he came bounding out to grab some of the bounty before realizing I was there and hightailing it back to his burrow. So, yeah. Your local wildlife loves the berries. When you have some ripe fruits, open them up and pull out the seeds. There will be some pulp attached. The easiest way to get rid of this is to toss the seeds into a bowl of lukewarm water. Let them soak overnight and then rub the seeds in a colander to remove the rest of the pulp. Next you can either lay them out on a cookie sheet in a cool, protected area out of direct sun and shake the tray once a day to let them dry, or you can sow them right away. If you sow in the fall, put them in the ground about a quarter of an inch deep and place a little screen or other material over the ground to protect the seed from birds. You can also sow in the spring, but to do this you’ll need to cold-stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for eight weeks. The seeds should be put in moist sphagnum moss in a bag or container and then placed in the refrigerator. It helps to mark the date that you put the seeds into stratification. When you’re ready to sow, put the seeds in the ground and keep the soil moist. Within a month, you should see some growth beginning to emerge. You might want to put a little wire cage around the seedling to protect it from hungry critters. From Cuttings Most dogwood species propagate well by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. To do this, head outside during the spring or early summer and cut the end off a branch. The cutting should be about six inches long with lots of growth. It should have several leaf nodes and the wood should be pliable and able to bend a bit. Make the cut with sterilized clippers just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves except the top two and dip the end in rooting hormone.  Fill a four-inch container with seed starting medium and place the cutting an inch or two deep in the potting medium. Place the cutting in a spot outdoors with morning light and keep the medium moist at all times. Leave it in the growing container until the fall and then plant your cutting in the ground a few weeks before the first predicted frost date. Transplanting You can plant your evergreen dogwood in the spring or fall. Prepare the ground by digging out a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the growing container. Work a good amount of well-rotted compost or manure into the removed soil. Fill in the hole leaving a space about the size of the container. Remove the tree from the container and loosen up the roots a little. Set the plant in the hole and backfill around it with some more of that removed soil. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally. Water the soil well. It will probably settle a little and you’ll need to add a bit more soil. Managing Pests and Disease Anthracnose has devastated dogwood trees in some areas. But evergreen dogwoods appear to be resistant to this horrendous disease. If you’re dreaming of a dogwood and you know that anthracnose has been an issue in your area, try an evergreen. You’ll probably have more problems with herbivores than insects and disease, so let’s cover those, first. Herbivores Young trees are vulnerable to feeding by rabbits and deer, but older trees aren’t in any danger. Deer might nibble a fruit or young leaf during the winter, but the trees aren’t a primary target. Just put a little fence or cage around young plants and they’ll be fine. Insects Unless your dogwood is stressed by issues like extended drought, overwatering, or too much shade, pests won’t be a problem. While borers, midges, sawflies, and scale can spell disaster for some Cornus species, this one is largely unbothered. Still, you might want to familiarize yourself with these dogwood pests, just in case you ever encounter them. Disease The vast majority of gardeners will never have any disease issues with an evergreen dogwood. However, be aware that leaf spot caused by Phytophthora ramorum was found in nursery trees in California in 2023. That likely means that this disease will continue to spread in the future. But for now, it’s extremely rare. Leaf spot causes brown, irregularly shaped spots on the foliage that can be up to a third of an inch in diameter. If you see these symptoms, contact your local university extension office and report the disease or bring in a sample. Many states are interested in tracking the movement of this disease. Theoretically, all dogwoods are susceptible to anthracnose, but evergreen dogwoods are resistant. They are rarely troubled by the Discula destructiva fungus that can massacre other Cornus species. The disease shows up as brown or tan spots with red or purple margins on the leaves and flowers, followed by sunken cankers in the wood. If your tree were to be one of the rare ones that becomes symptomatic, you can usually get on top of the disease if you act quickly. Prune off symptomatic branches and spray liberally with liquid copper, but it’s a tough disease to cure. Other than that, so long as you didn’t plant yours in a swamp or something, your tree shouldn’t be subject to any diseases. Our guide to dogwood diseases makes sobering reading if you are feeling pessimistic. A Dogwood With Evergreen Elegance Dogwoods are some of my favorite trees. I don’t think a garden is complete without at least one type. And while I adore the more popular flowering dogwood (C. florida), it just won’t work in an area of the landscape where I need some evergreen color. But C. capitata gives me all the beauty of other flowering dogwoods without losing its foliage in the fall. I planted mine along a roadway where I wanted to increase the privacy of my yard a little. What about you? How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below! And for more information about growing dogwoods in your landscape, have a read of these guides next: © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Arbico Organics. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '176410929431717'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link

[tumibaba]

Cornus capitata I’ve yet to meet a dogwood I don’t like, but evergreen dogwoods (Cornus capitata) have a special place in my heart. These stately trees have foliage that persists year-round, plus glorious flowers in the spring followed by edible fruits. The evergreen dogwood hits all the right notes for me. Evergreen dogwoods can grow up to 50 feet tall and wide, or even wider, though there are cultivated hybrids available in different shapes and sizes. C. capitata blooms later in the season than native dogwoods, and the species is hardy only in Zones 8 and 9, though some subspecies are hardier. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking for a tree to punctuate your garden, want an ornamental that produces edible fruits, or you need a cute shrub that will add long-lasting flowers to the landscape, C. capitata can do it all. Our guide to growing dogwoods covers general care of species in the Cornus genus. This guide zeros in on the evergreen species. There’s a lot to know and love about this plant, so here’s what we’ll cover: Evergreen dogwoods originated in the Himalayas in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also commonly known as Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan flowering dogwood, and Himalayan strawberry-tree, and were formerly classified as Benthamidia capitata. The elliptic or lanceolate, leathery leaves are dark green on top, and grayish-green with a fuzzy coating made up of flattened hairs on the undersides. They can be up to five inches long. Though you see it less often than you would with deciduous trees, the bark is pretty, too. It’s dark, almost blackish-gray. All the young shoots are covered in downy hairs. Quick Look Common name(s): Evergreen dogwood, Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan strawberry-tree Plant type: Evergreen tree or shrub Hardiness (USDA Zone): 6-9 (depending on variety) Native to: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan Bloom time / season: Spring flowers, fall fruits Exposure: Full to part sun Soil type: Organically-rch, well draining Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral Time to maturity: 10 years Mature size: 20-5- ft wide x 20-50 ft high (depending on variety) Best uses: Bird garden, edible, naturalized areas, shrub, specimen, groupings, woodland garden Taxonomy Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Species: Capitata Though it’s evergreen, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up fabulous fall foliage as the leaves usually turn a pretty purplish-red come autumn. Of course, part of what we love best about most dogwoods are the flowers. In the case of C. capitata, they bloom in the early summer with white, yellow, or pale green bracts. After the blooms fade, they’re followed by pink, strawberry-like edible fruits. The flavor of the fruits ranges from sweet and fruity like a mango to downright bland. I think they’re a lot like persimmons in that you have to let them get nice and ripe for the best flavor. After you remove the seeds, you can eat them fresh or use them in sugary desserts or as an interesting addition to savory dishes like fish or pork. The pretty white flowers are actually colorful bracts, which are modified leaves. If you look closely at the center of the four to six bracts, you’ll see a cluster of dozens of tiny flowers in a hemispherical mass. When the flowers fade, this mass becomes a small green ball that eventually matures into the golfball-sized, purple-red berry-like fruit. The flowers tend to peak in June and July and the berries are at their best in October or November. When they are ripe, the birds will come visiting in droves. How to Grow Evergreen dogwoods are ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen tree, but smaller cultivars work well in groupings. They’re also ideal in woodland, Japanese, and English gardens. If you’re trying to create a naturalized area or a bird-friendly garden, this species should be top of your list. Since the fruit is edible, they’re perfect for growing in food forests and edible ornamental gardens. When evergreen dogwoods are happy, they’ll bloom profusely. When they’re not, they won’t blossom well. That’s your hint to try and figure out what’s going on. Typically, the cause is either temperatures that are too hot or too cold, or not enough water. In the right conditions, evergreen dogwoods can grow up to three feet per year, but most grow a bit slower than that. Let’s have a look at their cultural requirements: Climate Even though these trees are hardy in Zones 8 and 9, they don’t typically do well in the heat and humidity of the south. Evergreen dogwoods work well as windbreaks as they aren’t susceptible to wind damage. They’re also tolerant of salty wind coming in off the ocean, so you can even grow them in coastal areas. While usually evergreen, the trees might drop their leaves during the winter in the colder end of their hardiness range. If you live in such an area, try growing your evergreen dogwood against a southern-facing brick or cement wall, which creates a microclimate and will reflect the sun’s heat during the winter and keep the tree just a bit warmer. The leaves that change color will typically drop in the spring. Light Plant your evergreen dogwood in full sun or partial sun. In hot climates, shade in the afternoon is a necessity. Soil You should also look for a spot with organically-rich, well-draining soil. Neutral to slightly acidic is best, though they’ll tolerate a little alkalinity. On the pH scale, aim for 5.5 to 7.0. Avoid planting evergreen dogwoods in heavy clay or extremely sandy soil. Water The soil should stay consistently moist or just the top inch or two be allowed to dry out. You’ll need to pay special attention during the heat of summer to keep the soil from drying out. Fertilizing Don’t feed young evergreen dogwoods at all. They should have all they need from the soil and we don’t want to encourage them to grow too rapidly. After the tree has been in the ground for a year or two, test your soil. You might find that your soil has everything it needs to keep your plants happy. If the soil test reveals specific deficiencies, find an appropriate fertilizer. Use it according to the manufacturer’s directions, or feed in the spring as the flowers bud out and again in the summer after flowering. If you opt to skip the soil test, feed in the spring and summer with a product formulated for trees. One of my favorites is Down to Earth Tree and Shrub. It’s made from feather meal, fish bone, kelp meal, soybean meal, and rock phosphate with the right NPK ratio of 4-2-4 for young trees. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub It also contains mycorrhizal fungi, which helps roots develop. You can find Down to Earth Tree and Shrub in five- or 25-pound packages at Arbico Organics. Cultivars to Select There aren’t many evergreen dogwood cultivars out there and just a few subspecies, but for those outside of Zones 8 and 9, it’s definitely worth watching for them since they’re all hardier than the species. Chinese C. capitata subsp. angustata grows to about half the size of the species as a large shrub or small tree. It tops out at about 20 feet tall and wide. It can be a bit more floriferous than the species, but besides the size and hardiness, it’s fairly similar in all other ways. It’s hardy in Zones 7 and up, though you can keep it in 6b if you plant it against a south-facing brick wall. Happenstance ‘Happenstance’ is an impressive bloomer that is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. In Zone 6, it might act as a semi-evergreen, but regardless of the Zone it will bloom like a dream. It’s the perfect size for a smaller garden or even a container, since it tops out at about 20 feet, though it takes decades to get there. Mt. Emei C. capitata subsp. emeiensis (sometimes called C. omeiensis) is slightly hardier than the species, growing in Zones 7 to 9. The flowers are cream-colored, highlighted against leaves that emerge as copper before turning green. It’s very similar to the species, so if you live in a colder area and long for your own evergreen dogwood, look for this one. Mountain Moon This is the most popular evergreen dogwood cultivar out there and the one you’ll find at more stores. That’s because it’s much more cold-tolerant than the species. Plus, it maintains a nice size for most gardens, growing up to 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide in Zones 5 to 8. The flowers are also larger than the species, the bracts reaching up to six inches in diameter. Coupled with their bright white coloring, you could easily imagine them shining bright like a Himalayan full moon. The blooms can last throughout late spring and almost to midsummer. Yoko ‘Yoko’ is a hard to find but extremely hardy cultivar, growing up to 20 feet tall. It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 without any trouble. Pruning You don’t have to prune your evergreen dogwood unless a branch breaks or you notice signs of disease. Otherwise, feel free to leave it to its own devices. If you really want to get in there and give it some shape, it responds well to pruning. Prune back to the nearest branch or trunk wherever you want to thin the area out or take back some length. Don’t apply any sealant to the cut area. The tree will heal itself. Propagation The fruits produce seeds that you can use to propagate new evergreen dogwoods. You can also take cuttings from existing specimens. Let’s talk about seeds, first: From Seed If you’d like to start this plant from seed, that’s certainly an option. It will take a while before the tree matures and you can’t grow cultivars or hybrids from seed. Well, you can, but they probably won’t grow true. You can purchase seeds, but it’s fun to try harvesting your own. The seeds are on the inside of the berry. There’s usually one per fruit but in some cases there can be multiple. When the fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground and generally they’ll be nabbed by animals pretty quickly. So if you want to harvest seeds, the best thing to do is shake the tree and pick up those that fall. As a funny aside, I have a rabbit that has made its home in my backyard who we have named Mr. Hops. One time when I was shaking my dogwood, he came bounding out to grab some of the bounty before realizing I was there and hightailing it back to his burrow. So, yeah. Your local wildlife loves the berries. When you have some ripe fruits, open them up and pull out the seeds. There will be some pulp attached. The easiest way to get rid of this is to toss the seeds into a bowl of lukewarm water. Let them soak overnight and then rub the seeds in a colander to remove the rest of the pulp. Next you can either lay them out on a cookie sheet in a cool, protected area out of direct sun and shake the tray once a day to let them dry, or you can sow them right away. If you sow in the fall, put them in the ground about a quarter of an inch deep and place a little screen or other material over the ground to protect the seed from birds. You can also sow in the spring, but to do this you’ll need to cold-stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for eight weeks. The seeds should be put in moist sphagnum moss in a bag or container and then placed in the refrigerator. It helps to mark the date that you put the seeds into stratification. When you’re ready to sow, put the seeds in the ground and keep the soil moist. Within a month, you should see some growth beginning to emerge. You might want to put a little wire cage around the seedling to protect it from hungry critters. From Cuttings Most dogwood species propagate well by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. To do this, head outside during the spring or early summer and cut the end off a branch. The cutting should be about six inches long with lots of growth. It should have several leaf nodes and the wood should be pliable and able to bend a bit. Make the cut with sterilized clippers just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves except the top two and dip the end in rooting hormone.  Fill a four-inch container with seed starting medium and place the cutting an inch or two deep in the potting medium. Place the cutting in a spot outdoors with morning light and keep the medium moist at all times. Leave it in the growing container until the fall and then plant your cutting in the ground a few weeks before the first predicted frost date. Transplanting You can plant your evergreen dogwood in the spring or fall. Prepare the ground by digging out a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the growing container. Work a good amount of well-rotted compost or manure into the removed soil. Fill in the hole leaving a space about the size of the container. Remove the tree from the container and loosen up the roots a little. Set the plant in the hole and backfill around it with some more of that removed soil. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally. Water the soil well. It will probably settle a little and you’ll need to add a bit more soil. Managing Pests and Disease Anthracnose has devastated dogwood trees in some areas. But evergreen dogwoods appear to be resistant to this horrendous disease. If you’re dreaming of a dogwood and you know that anthracnose has been an issue in your area, try an evergreen. You’ll probably have more problems with herbivores than insects and disease, so let’s cover those, first. Herbivores Young trees are vulnerable to feeding by rabbits and deer, but older trees aren’t in any danger. Deer might nibble a fruit or young leaf during the winter, but the trees aren’t a primary target. Just put a little fence or cage around young plants and they’ll be fine. Insects Unless your dogwood is stressed by issues like extended drought, overwatering, or too much shade, pests won’t be a problem. While borers, midges, sawflies, and scale can spell disaster for some Cornus species, this one is largely unbothered. Still, you might want to familiarize yourself with these dogwood pests, just in case you ever encounter them. Disease The vast majority of gardeners will never have any disease issues with an evergreen dogwood. However, be aware that leaf spot caused by Phytophthora ramorum was found in nursery trees in California in 2023. That likely means that this disease will continue to spread in the future. But for now, it’s extremely rare. Leaf spot causes brown, irregularly shaped spots on the foliage that can be up to a third of an inch in diameter. If you see these symptoms, contact your local university extension office and report the disease or bring in a sample. Many states are interested in tracking the movement of this disease. Theoretically, all dogwoods are susceptible to anthracnose, but evergreen dogwoods are resistant. They are rarely troubled by the Discula destructiva fungus that can massacre other Cornus species. The disease shows up as brown or tan spots with red or purple margins on the leaves and flowers, followed by sunken cankers in the wood. If your tree were to be one of the rare ones that becomes symptomatic, you can usually get on top of the disease if you act quickly. Prune off symptomatic branches and spray liberally with liquid copper, but it’s a tough disease to cure. Other than that, so long as you didn’t plant yours in a swamp or something, your tree shouldn’t be subject to any diseases. Our guide to dogwood diseases makes sobering reading if you are feeling pessimistic. A Dogwood With Evergreen Elegance Dogwoods are some of my favorite trees. I don’t think a garden is complete without at least one type. And while I adore the more popular flowering dogwood (C. florida), it just won’t work in an area of the landscape where I need some evergreen color. But C. capitata gives me all the beauty of other flowering dogwoods without losing its foliage in the fall. I planted mine along a roadway where I wanted to increase the privacy of my yard a little. What about you? How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below! And for more information about growing dogwoods in your landscape, have a read of these guides next: © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Arbico Organics. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '176410929431717'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link

[romaleen]

Cornus capitata I’ve yet to meet a dogwood I don’t like, but evergreen dogwoods (Cornus capitata) have a special place in my heart. These stately trees have foliage that persists year-round, plus glorious flowers in the spring followed by edible fruits. The evergreen dogwood hits all the right notes for me. Evergreen dogwoods can grow up to 50 feet tall and wide, or even wider, though there are cultivated hybrids available in different shapes and sizes. C. capitata blooms later in the season than native dogwoods, and the species is hardy only in Zones 8 and 9, though some subspecies are hardier. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re looking for a tree to punctuate your garden, want an ornamental that produces edible fruits, or you need a cute shrub that will add long-lasting flowers to the landscape, C. capitata can do it all. Our guide to growing dogwoods covers general care of species in the Cornus genus. This guide zeros in on the evergreen species. There’s a lot to know and love about this plant, so here’s what we’ll cover: Evergreen dogwoods originated in the Himalayas in China, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. They are also commonly known as Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan flowering dogwood, and Himalayan strawberry-tree, and were formerly classified as Benthamidia capitata. The elliptic or lanceolate, leathery leaves are dark green on top, and grayish-green with a fuzzy coating made up of flattened hairs on the undersides. They can be up to five inches long. Though you see it less often than you would with deciduous trees, the bark is pretty, too. It’s dark, almost blackish-gray. All the young shoots are covered in downy hairs. Quick Look Common name(s): Evergreen dogwood, Bentham’s cornel, Himalayan strawberry-tree Plant type: Evergreen tree or shrub Hardiness (USDA Zone): 6-9 (depending on variety) Native to: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan Bloom time / season: Spring flowers, fall fruits Exposure: Full to part sun Soil type: Organically-rch, well draining Soil pH: 5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral Time to maturity: 10 years Mature size: 20-5- ft wide x 20-50 ft high (depending on variety) Best uses: Bird garden, edible, naturalized areas, shrub, specimen, groupings, woodland garden Taxonomy Order: Cornales Family: Cornaceae Genus: Cornus Species: Capitata Though it’s evergreen, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up fabulous fall foliage as the leaves usually turn a pretty purplish-red come autumn. Of course, part of what we love best about most dogwoods are the flowers. In the case of C. capitata, they bloom in the early summer with white, yellow, or pale green bracts. After the blooms fade, they’re followed by pink, strawberry-like edible fruits. The flavor of the fruits ranges from sweet and fruity like a mango to downright bland. I think they’re a lot like persimmons in that you have to let them get nice and ripe for the best flavor. After you remove the seeds, you can eat them fresh or use them in sugary desserts or as an interesting addition to savory dishes like fish or pork. The pretty white flowers are actually colorful bracts, which are modified leaves. If you look closely at the center of the four to six bracts, you’ll see a cluster of dozens of tiny flowers in a hemispherical mass. When the flowers fade, this mass becomes a small green ball that eventually matures into the golfball-sized, purple-red berry-like fruit. The flowers tend to peak in June and July and the berries are at their best in October or November. When they are ripe, the birds will come visiting in droves. How to Grow Evergreen dogwoods are ideal for growing as a focal point or specimen tree, but smaller cultivars work well in groupings. They’re also ideal in woodland, Japanese, and English gardens. If you’re trying to create a naturalized area or a bird-friendly garden, this species should be top of your list. Since the fruit is edible, they’re perfect for growing in food forests and edible ornamental gardens. When evergreen dogwoods are happy, they’ll bloom profusely. When they’re not, they won’t blossom well. That’s your hint to try and figure out what’s going on. Typically, the cause is either temperatures that are too hot or too cold, or not enough water. In the right conditions, evergreen dogwoods can grow up to three feet per year, but most grow a bit slower than that. Let’s have a look at their cultural requirements: Climate Even though these trees are hardy in Zones 8 and 9, they don’t typically do well in the heat and humidity of the south. Evergreen dogwoods work well as windbreaks as they aren’t susceptible to wind damage. They’re also tolerant of salty wind coming in off the ocean, so you can even grow them in coastal areas. While usually evergreen, the trees might drop their leaves during the winter in the colder end of their hardiness range. If you live in such an area, try growing your evergreen dogwood against a southern-facing brick or cement wall, which creates a microclimate and will reflect the sun’s heat during the winter and keep the tree just a bit warmer. The leaves that change color will typically drop in the spring. Light Plant your evergreen dogwood in full sun or partial sun. In hot climates, shade in the afternoon is a necessity. Soil You should also look for a spot with organically-rich, well-draining soil. Neutral to slightly acidic is best, though they’ll tolerate a little alkalinity. On the pH scale, aim for 5.5 to 7.0. Avoid planting evergreen dogwoods in heavy clay or extremely sandy soil. Water The soil should stay consistently moist or just the top inch or two be allowed to dry out. You’ll need to pay special attention during the heat of summer to keep the soil from drying out. Fertilizing Don’t feed young evergreen dogwoods at all. They should have all they need from the soil and we don’t want to encourage them to grow too rapidly. After the tree has been in the ground for a year or two, test your soil. You might find that your soil has everything it needs to keep your plants happy. If the soil test reveals specific deficiencies, find an appropriate fertilizer. Use it according to the manufacturer’s directions, or feed in the spring as the flowers bud out and again in the summer after flowering. If you opt to skip the soil test, feed in the spring and summer with a product formulated for trees. One of my favorites is Down to Earth Tree and Shrub. It’s made from feather meal, fish bone, kelp meal, soybean meal, and rock phosphate with the right NPK ratio of 4-2-4 for young trees. Down to Earth Tree and Shrub It also contains mycorrhizal fungi, which helps roots develop. You can find Down to Earth Tree and Shrub in five- or 25-pound packages at Arbico Organics. Cultivars to Select There aren’t many evergreen dogwood cultivars out there and just a few subspecies, but for those outside of Zones 8 and 9, it’s definitely worth watching for them since they’re all hardier than the species. Chinese C. capitata subsp. angustata grows to about half the size of the species as a large shrub or small tree. It tops out at about 20 feet tall and wide. It can be a bit more floriferous than the species, but besides the size and hardiness, it’s fairly similar in all other ways. It’s hardy in Zones 7 and up, though you can keep it in 6b if you plant it against a south-facing brick wall. Happenstance ‘Happenstance’ is an impressive bloomer that is hardy in Zones 6 to 9. In Zone 6, it might act as a semi-evergreen, but regardless of the Zone it will bloom like a dream. It’s the perfect size for a smaller garden or even a container, since it tops out at about 20 feet, though it takes decades to get there. Mt. Emei C. capitata subsp. emeiensis (sometimes called C. omeiensis) is slightly hardier than the species, growing in Zones 7 to 9. The flowers are cream-colored, highlighted against leaves that emerge as copper before turning green. It’s very similar to the species, so if you live in a colder area and long for your own evergreen dogwood, look for this one. Mountain Moon This is the most popular evergreen dogwood cultivar out there and the one you’ll find at more stores. That’s because it’s much more cold-tolerant than the species. Plus, it maintains a nice size for most gardens, growing up to 25 feet tall and about 15 feet wide in Zones 5 to 8. The flowers are also larger than the species, the bracts reaching up to six inches in diameter. Coupled with their bright white coloring, you could easily imagine them shining bright like a Himalayan full moon. The blooms can last throughout late spring and almost to midsummer. Yoko ‘Yoko’ is a hard to find but extremely hardy cultivar, growing up to 20 feet tall. It thrives in Zones 6 to 9 without any trouble. Pruning You don’t have to prune your evergreen dogwood unless a branch breaks or you notice signs of disease. Otherwise, feel free to leave it to its own devices. If you really want to get in there and give it some shape, it responds well to pruning. Prune back to the nearest branch or trunk wherever you want to thin the area out or take back some length. Don’t apply any sealant to the cut area. The tree will heal itself. Propagation The fruits produce seeds that you can use to propagate new evergreen dogwoods. You can also take cuttings from existing specimens. Let’s talk about seeds, first: From Seed If you’d like to start this plant from seed, that’s certainly an option. It will take a while before the tree matures and you can’t grow cultivars or hybrids from seed. Well, you can, but they probably won’t grow true. You can purchase seeds, but it’s fun to try harvesting your own. The seeds are on the inside of the berry. There’s usually one per fruit but in some cases there can be multiple. When the fruits are ripe, they drop to the ground and generally they’ll be nabbed by animals pretty quickly. So if you want to harvest seeds, the best thing to do is shake the tree and pick up those that fall. As a funny aside, I have a rabbit that has made its home in my backyard who we have named Mr. Hops. One time when I was shaking my dogwood, he came bounding out to grab some of the bounty before realizing I was there and hightailing it back to his burrow. So, yeah. Your local wildlife loves the berries. When you have some ripe fruits, open them up and pull out the seeds. There will be some pulp attached. The easiest way to get rid of this is to toss the seeds into a bowl of lukewarm water. Let them soak overnight and then rub the seeds in a colander to remove the rest of the pulp. Next you can either lay them out on a cookie sheet in a cool, protected area out of direct sun and shake the tray once a day to let them dry, or you can sow them right away. If you sow in the fall, put them in the ground about a quarter of an inch deep and place a little screen or other material over the ground to protect the seed from birds. You can also sow in the spring, but to do this you’ll need to cold-stratify the seeds in the refrigerator for eight weeks. The seeds should be put in moist sphagnum moss in a bag or container and then placed in the refrigerator. It helps to mark the date that you put the seeds into stratification. When you’re ready to sow, put the seeds in the ground and keep the soil moist. Within a month, you should see some growth beginning to emerge. You might want to put a little wire cage around the seedling to protect it from hungry critters. From Cuttings Most dogwood species propagate well by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings. To do this, head outside during the spring or early summer and cut the end off a branch. The cutting should be about six inches long with lots of growth. It should have several leaf nodes and the wood should be pliable and able to bend a bit. Make the cut with sterilized clippers just below a leaf node. Remove all of the leaves except the top two and dip the end in rooting hormone.  Fill a four-inch container with seed starting medium and place the cutting an inch or two deep in the potting medium. Place the cutting in a spot outdoors with morning light and keep the medium moist at all times. Leave it in the growing container until the fall and then plant your cutting in the ground a few weeks before the first predicted frost date. Transplanting You can plant your evergreen dogwood in the spring or fall. Prepare the ground by digging out a hole that is twice as wide and deep as the growing container. Work a good amount of well-rotted compost or manure into the removed soil. Fill in the hole leaving a space about the size of the container. Remove the tree from the container and loosen up the roots a little. Set the plant in the hole and backfill around it with some more of that removed soil. Don’t bury the plant any deeper than it was originally. Water the soil well. It will probably settle a little and you’ll need to add a bit more soil. Managing Pests and Disease Anthracnose has devastated dogwood trees in some areas. But evergreen dogwoods appear to be resistant to this horrendous disease. If you’re dreaming of a dogwood and you know that anthracnose has been an issue in your area, try an evergreen. You’ll probably have more problems with herbivores than insects and disease, so let’s cover those, first. Herbivores Young trees are vulnerable to feeding by rabbits and deer, but older trees aren’t in any danger. Deer might nibble a fruit or young leaf during the winter, but the trees aren’t a primary target. Just put a little fence or cage around young plants and they’ll be fine. Insects Unless your dogwood is stressed by issues like extended drought, overwatering, or too much shade, pests won’t be a problem. While borers, midges, sawflies, and scale can spell disaster for some Cornus species, this one is largely unbothered. Still, you might want to familiarize yourself with these dogwood pests, just in case you ever encounter them. Disease The vast majority of gardeners will never have any disease issues with an evergreen dogwood. However, be aware that leaf spot caused by Phytophthora ramorum was found in nursery trees in California in 2023. That likely means that this disease will continue to spread in the future. But for now, it’s extremely rare. Leaf spot causes brown, irregularly shaped spots on the foliage that can be up to a third of an inch in diameter. If you see these symptoms, contact your local university extension office and report the disease or bring in a sample. Many states are interested in tracking the movement of this disease. Theoretically, all dogwoods are susceptible to anthracnose, but evergreen dogwoods are resistant. They are rarely troubled by the Discula destructiva fungus that can massacre other Cornus species. The disease shows up as brown or tan spots with red or purple margins on the leaves and flowers, followed by sunken cankers in the wood. If your tree were to be one of the rare ones that becomes symptomatic, you can usually get on top of the disease if you act quickly. Prune off symptomatic branches and spray liberally with liquid copper, but it’s a tough disease to cure. Other than that, so long as you didn’t plant yours in a swamp or something, your tree shouldn’t be subject to any diseases. Our guide to dogwood diseases makes sobering reading if you are feeling pessimistic. A Dogwood With Evergreen Elegance Dogwoods are some of my favorite trees. I don’t think a garden is complete without at least one type. And while I adore the more popular flowering dogwood (C. florida), it just won’t work in an area of the landscape where I need some evergreen color. But C. capitata gives me all the beauty of other flowering dogwoods without losing its foliage in the fall. I planted mine along a roadway where I wanted to increase the privacy of my yard a little. What about you? How will you use yours? Let us know in the comments section below! And for more information about growing dogwoods in your landscape, have a read of these guides next: © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photo via Arbico Organics. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '176410929431717'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); Source link