The second one is more fine-textured and bushy. But although slow and shrubby at first it still grows 20' tall over time, on a suitable site. If you want the table dogwood effect, with layers of distinctly separate branches ("wedding cake tree" in Britain) on a more vigorous tree of some height you will need to plant the first one.

Sometimes with Cornus controversa 'Variegata' you get a stinker that mostly just grows as a branch (as mine did, until it was removed after quite a few years of waiting on it) but most examples seen here are developing rapidly.

I actually prefer the more petite and frothy aspect of the C. alternifolia cultivar. It should be noted that with both the leaves are somewhat deformed, so that the appeal is not maintained during close viewing.

bboy, Thanks for the info. Are you aware of any differences in terms of their sun tolerance, disease resistance and hardiness? I guess one way for me to find out is to try both.

If it helps, my generic Cornus controversa takes sun better than Cornus florida. Only in our hot droughts of late summer has it shown any weakness to sun.

toronado, Thanks for the info. I suspect the variegated form may be less tolerance of full sun.