'Ruth Ellen' is one of six cultivars taken from the hybrid crossing of the American Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) x the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) in what is called the "Stellar Series." They were developed at Rutgers University in New Jersey by Dr. Elwin Orton. The hybrid does have characteristics of both parents, of course. I imagine the fruit is sterile, that is like singular little drupes together in a tight cluster. The flowers bloom right after the American species blooms and appear with the leaves. The branching habit is stiff like the Kousa. It seems they were developed because the American Flowering Dogwood was declining at that time from the Discula leaf blight and canker disease. I glad to say that there still are a whole bunch of the American species doing well today. These Stellar hybrids are interesting. I've only seen the one tree in Newtown Square, PA that was selected for a homeowner by a plant enthusiast.

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