Trees

Cornus × rutgersensis 'Rutgan'

Stellar Pink hybrid dogwood

Stellar Pink hybrid dogwood photographed by David J. Stang; 0.

Stellar Pink combines flowering dogwood and kousa ancestry in a Rutgers hybrid with softly pink floral bracts. Flowering falls between its two parent species, extending the dogwood season. Green summer leaves become bright red in autumn, and its sterile character means it does not provide a normal seeded fruit crop.

At a glance

Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Size: Height: About 23 ft at 20 years (breeder observation) · Width: About 18 ft at 20 years (breeder observation)
Water: Keep soil moist, not waterlogged
Hardiness: Tested winter-hardy in USDA 6a
Bloom: Soft pink bracts, spring

Sizes & prices

#7Rutgers introduction Deep pink kousa hybrid$169.99
#5Call for price
#10DogwoodCall for price

Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.

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Landscape use & tree form

Use: Ornamental flowering specimen
Form: Erect, broadly full canopy
Growth rate: Vigorous
Fruit / litter: Sterile cultivar; no fruit crop expected.
Major issues: Selected for resistance to dogwood anthracnose and powdery mildew; resistance is not immunity. Avoid poorly drained soil.

Resistance & tolerances

Deer: Partly deer resistant; Colesville rates this cultivar semi-resistant, so browsing remains possible.
Drought: Mild drought tolerated once established; prefers consistent moisture.
Wet soil: Maintain moisture but avoid soggy, waterlogged ground.
Disease: Good resistance to powdery mildew and anthracnose; not immunity.

Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.

Seasonal interest

Foliage: Green foliage becomes red in fall; deciduous

Growing & care

Pruning: Preserve the flowering, layered crown with light selective pruning; remove dead and crossing wood rather than routinely heading back the tree.
Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil; protect the root zone from drying.

Sources & photo credits

Rutgers University

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

University of Minnesota Extension

Monrovia

Colesville Nursery

NVK Nurseries

Photo: David J. Stang · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image notes: Stellar Pink hybrid dogwood photographed by David J. Stang; resized from the original under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Reviewed September 22, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.