John, Pink dogwood trees from seeds will revert back to white, you may get one pink one out of 10000 seedlings, it is rare. Pink dog woods are budded usually or grafted. Some have limited success with tip cutting from a pink after blooming is done and this is done under a mist system.

Have you looked at Cornus kousa Beni Fuji? More of a semi-dwarf Cornus kousa, but originates from a documented independent origin than the others. Radiant Rose, Satomi, and Hearthrob etc are all rather similar. You might look at Whitman's Nursery Site, and ask her directly, as she grows or has grown/seen most of the pink Cornus kousa. Also you probable know by now, but JIC you don't, the color is significantly influenced by climate and age of the tree. So if you are east of the Cascades, you aren't likely to nearly as white as west in the cooler climate. Arktrees Here is a link that might be useful: Whitman's

Hi Richie -- Loved most (but not all) of the Litchfield Jazz Fest (though 3 days of jazz, which we signed up for because our friends wanted to do it) was a bit TOO much even for jazz-loving me! I didn't even see you-- hope you didn't wave and I ignored you... if so, I apologize! ;) Maybe someone else will weigh in on the understory issue, but I've always been taught that they were understory natives by nature, and in fact, can fail when planted in full sun and soil that's too well drained. Having said that, you do see more prolific blooms on the ones in sun than the understory ones (but I still love to see them flowering under the canopies of the hardwood forests around here!). In fact, a landscape designer I talked with suggested I plant several dogwoods in my little wooded glen (basically part of the hardwood forest around us)...well in the heavily dappled shade from hickories, maples, etc. Here is a link that might be useful: understory trees

And unnamed plant such as that is most likely a seedling.....not a cultivar at all. That would also explain the delayed blooming. Seedling grown trees are very common at some retail locations, including on line venders. And seedling dogwoods are very common! If you are interested in a tree with more predictable characteristics and early flowering, you must purchase a NAMED CULTIVAR. There is no guarantee that your "pink dogwood" will have pink flowers, however. That certainty can only come from a graft or rooted cutting. By the way, there's nothing wrong with seedling grown trees as a rule. But you will miss out on exceptional qualities of desirable cultivars.