Trees

Cornus × elwinortonii 'KN30-8'

Venus hybrid dogwood

Venus hybrid dogwood grown in Cincinnati, Ohio, 2023. Photo: Scott Beuerlein / Trees and Shrubs Online, CC BY-SA 4.0

Venus is a vigorous hybrid dogwood best known for exceptionally large creamy-white bracts. Its ancestry combines kousa and Pacific dogwood, producing an upright oval tree with dark green foliage and red-to-purple autumn color. The striking late-spring bloom makes it a strong specimen, while fruit production is typically sparse.

At a glance

Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Size: Height: About 18 ft at 20 years (breeder observation) · Width: About 25 ft at 20 years (breeder observation)
Water: Keep soil moist, not waterlogged
Hardiness: Tested winter-hardy in USDA 6a
Bloom: Very large creamy-white bracts, late spring

Sizes & prices

#7Venus DogwoodCall for price
#10White Dogwood$179.99

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
Growth rate: Vigorous
Form: Dense, low-branched crown becoming rounded and broad
Fruit / litter: Fleshy strawberry-like fruits in fall.
Major issues: Selected for resistance to dogwood anthracnose and powdery mildew; resistance is not immunity. Avoid poorly drained soil.

Resistance & tolerances

Deer: Listed as deer resistant by University of Delaware Botanic Gardens and growers; not deer-proof.
Drought: Good tolerance reported by breeder once established; maintain moisture while young.
Wet soil: Maintain moisture but avoid soggy, waterlogged ground.
Disease: High resistance to powdery mildew and anthracnose; not immunity.

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

Pollinators & wildlife

Birds: Supports birds

Seasonal interest

Foliage: Glossy green, turning 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

University of Delaware

NVK Nurseries

Photo: Scott Beuerlein / Trees and Shrubs Online, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized for web without enlargement. · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image notes: Venus hybrid dogwood grown in Cincinnati, Ohio, 2023. Photo: Scott Beuerlein / Trees and Shrubs Online, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized for web without enlargement.

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