Cornus hongkongensis subsp. melanotricha ("Gabisan'yamaboshi")

Japanese name: ガビサンヤマボウシ （峨眉山山法師）
Scientific name: Cornus hongkongensis subsp. melanotricha

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub to tree growing to about 3–12 m tall.
The leaves are simple and opposite, elliptical, 6–10 cm long and 2.7–5 cm wide, with entire margins.
Three veins are usually conspicuous on the leaf.
Dark brown hairlike projections are often seen in the vein axils on the underside of the leaf.
The flowers are small, greenish yellow and four-petaled, and about 40 of them are borne in a head-like inflorescence about 1 cm across at the branch tips.
At the base of the inflorescence are 4 petal-like, elliptical involucral bracts, 2–4 cm long and 1–3.5 cm wide.
The bracts are yellowish green at first and later turn milky white.
The fruit is an elliptical compound fruit 2–2.5 cm across, ripening to red.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by grafting.
Avoid transplanting or pruning in early spring, as it weakens the tree.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, moisture-retentive, fertile, moderately moist sites, and dislikes strong sunlight striking the trunk.
In dry or poor soil the leaves shrivel and the tree becomes susceptible to pests and diseases.
It dislikes pruning, which spoils its shape, so it is best to secure enough space that the branches need not be cut back.
The roots are coarse and root poorly, so transplanting a mature tree is difficult, and root pruning in advance is necessary if it must be moved.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer around the base as fertilizer in winter.
Powdery mildew can occur.

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