Flowering dogwood

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun is suitable in cooler climates if the roots stay evenly moist.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, especially for the first two or three growing seasons; established trees also suffer in prolonged drought.

Soil

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, preferably acidic, around pH 5.5-6.5. Avoid chalky soil, compacted ground and sites that stay wet.

Height

15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m)

Spread

15-30 ft (4.6-9.1 m)

Flowers

Mid- to late spring, before or as the leaves open. Usually four white bracts surround small greenish-yellow flowers; pink and red-bracted cultivars are available.

Foliage

Oval green leaves with curved veins, turning red, burgundy or purple in autumn. Older trees develop bark divided into small, block-like plates.

Growth

Slow to moderate, commonly about 1 ft (0.3 m) a year in suitable conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant with the root flare at soil level; do not bury the trunk or plant in a waterlogged hollow.
• Water slowly over the root zone during dry weather rather than giving frequent light sprinkles.
• Maintain a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) layer of leaf mould or bark mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Avoid routine heavy feeding; use a modest spring feed only if poor growth or a soil test indicates a need.
• Keep lawn mowers and strimmers away from the bark, and avoid digging among the shallow roots.

Pruning. Prune sparingly in late autumn or winter, choosing dry weather to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches. Preserve the natural layered shape, avoid topping, and remove diseased wood promptly with tools cleaned between cuts.

Early spring

Refresh mulch and check soil moisture as growth begins; keep mulch away from the trunk.

Late spring

Inspect leaves and shoots for spotting or dieback, especially after cool, wet weather.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells and check for leaf scorch or signs of trunk injury.

Autumn

Leave healthy fruits for birds, but collect and dispose of fallen leaves if disease has been present.

Late autumn

Plant while the soil is workable and well drained; in cold regions, postpone planting until spring.

Winter

Inspect the branch structure and remove only dead, damaged or badly crossing growth during dry weather.

• Use as a small specimen tree beside a patio or lawn, leaving room for its broad, low branches.
• Plant at a bright woodland edge with ferns and spring-flowering perennials for a layered display.
• Place against a dark evergreen background to make the pale spring bracts stand out.
• Include in an eastern North American native planting with shrubs that provide autumn fruit and colour.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Wildlife garden, Traditional, English country, Autumn colour and White garden.

Plant it with: Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Witch hazel, Christmas fern, Foamflower and Virginia bluebells.

Wildlife: The small true flowers provide pollen and nectar for insects. Birds eat the red fruits, and the branches provide shelter and nesting sites. In its native range, the foliage supports several moth and butterfly larvae, including spring azure butterflies.

• Dogwood anthracnose: cool, wet conditions can lead to leaf blotches, twig dieback and cankers. Remove affected shoots and fallen leaves, improve airflow without heavy pruning, and seek local advice if dieback spreads; resistant cultivars are preferable where the disease is established.
• Powdery mildew: a white coating can distort leaves and weaken young trees. Avoid excessive nitrogen, maintain soil moisture and choose a resistant cultivar when replacing a badly affected tree.
• Dogwood borer: larvae tunnel beneath bark, often entering through wounds. Protect the trunk from mower damage, keep the tree watered and seek local treatment advice if you find frass or loose bark.
• Leaf scorch and yellowing: drought, heat, damaged roots or alkaline soil can cause brown leaf margins or yellow leaves with green veins. Check drainage and soil pH, water deeply, mulch and avoid treating with fertiliser without identifying the cause.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs or horses. The fruits are not recommended for people to eat and may cause mild stomach upset, particularly in quantity; discourage children and pets from eating them.

• Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa)

  Usually flowers later, after the leaves have expanded, and has more pointed bracts. Its fruits merge into round, strawberry-like clusters rather than forming separate red, oval fruits.

• Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

  Often grows taller and usually has larger flower displays with four to six, sometimes more, white bracts. Flowering dogwood usually has four bracts, often with a distinct notch at each tip.

The species name florida means 'flowering' or 'floriferous' in Latin, referring to its conspicuous spring display rather than the US state.

Propagation. Grow the species from cleaned seed sown outdoors in autumn in a protected seedbed or container; germination can be slow and may take more than one season. Seedlings do not reliably match named cultivars, which are usually propagated by grafting or budding.

Accepted botanical name

Cornus florida

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Louisiana.

Measured

Average height 700 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.