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A closeup of the Golden Shadows Variegated Dogwood leaves, showing the bright yellow and lime green variegated foliage against a white background

Golden Shadows® Variegated Pagoda Dogwood

Cornus alternifolia 'W. Stackman' PP11,287

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This plant is not available at this time through Bower & Branch. We provide this plant profile for reference only. 

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Growth Facts

Hardiness Zone 3-7
Mature Height 15' tall
Mature Width 15' wide
Exposure Part Shade
Spacing 12-15' apart

Why Plant Golden Shadows® Variegated Pagoda Dogwood?

Pagoda Dogwood gets its name from its branching habit's resemblance to the tiers of a Chinese pagoda. Despite the Asian reference, though, this tree is 100% American, native to swampy areas of the Eastern U.S. Native plant enthusiasts have always admired this small ornamental tree, but it has never really caught on with the general public. Until now. With its luminous yellow variegation, Golden Shadows® Pagoda Dogwood has turned this humble green frog into a prince! You'll love the way the horizontal branching makes the dazzling golden foliage seem to float in space. We are thrilled to offer this rare and special tree that will be the showpiece of your shady borders.

Sometimes a plant, tired of wearing green every day, decides to mix things up.  It sends out one branch clothed in leaves flamboyantly splashed with yellow or white.  This is what happened to Walt Stackman’s Pagoda Dogwood in the 1990s, and Golden Shadows® was born.  Walt, of West Chicago, is known for his daylily breeding, but when this chance mutation, or “sport” as it’s called, appeared on his tree, he knew he had to become a tree introducer too, and he filed for a patent on his marvelous new plant.

How to use Golden Shadows® Variegated Pagoda Dogwood in the landscape?

This Pagoda Dogwood won't be hiding in the shadows! Lime green leaves are edged in gold - colors that just demand attention. Fragrant white flower clusters appear in late spring followed by dark blue fruit - which the songbirds love! Golden Shadows can be used as an accent plant, in rock gardens, in mass plantings and even near water gardens or ponds.

Planting Zones

Hardiness Zones: 3-7

How To Plant Golden Shadows® Variegated Pagoda Dogwood

Give this tree’s needs careful consideration when deciding where to place it. It must have sun to develop its variegation, but too much sun will scorch the leaves. Planting it in the dappled shade cast by a small-leaved tree like Honeylocust might be ideal, but don’t make Golden Shadows® compete with it for water. This tree asks for steady moisture and will lose out in a battle over water rights. A canker disease occasionally affects this tree, so keep it growing vigorously, so it can better fend off attacks.

How To Water

Water weekly, or better yet, use the Bower & Branch® Water Element to deliver just the right amount of moisture to your tree throughout the growing season.

How To Fertilize

Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.

How To Prune

The Golden Shadows Variegated Dogwood does not require pruning due to its small stature. However, like most variegated plants, reversions can occur. So, if you see branching with solid green leaves, prune them out as needed.

How Does Shipping Work?

Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.

*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.

Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.

Shipping Delays:

From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.

How Does Sizing Work?

The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)

Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.

All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!

See the size guides below.

How Trees are Shipped
Size 4XL D Trees Size 3XL C Trees Size 2XL B Trees Size XL A Trees Size LARGE AA Trees

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