Cornus florida

Flowering dogwood is a woody, deciduous, flowering understory tree in the Cornaceae (dogwood) family that may grow 15 to 25 feet tall. It is native from southeastern Canada to eastern North America to eastern Mexico. The genus name comes from the Latin word for horn, cornu, most likely in reference to the tree’s hard, dense wood. 

Flowering dogwood can be a tricky plant to grow in a landscape setting. It is commonly found growing in woodland margins.  Locate flowering dogwood in a site that receives full sun to partial shade, though in the peidmont and along the coast it may need more shade, especially in the afternoon.  Plant in well-drained soil that is high in organic matter and has a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch will help keep the roots cool and moist in hot summers. Propagate flowering dogwood by seed or stem cutting. 

Dogwood’s true flowers are visited by butterflies and specialized bees, and its red fruits are a food source for songbirds and other wildlife from fall through winter.  This tree is quite tolerant to heat once established and has a low flammability rating.

The dogwood flower, which is actually the petal-like bracts, is the state flower of North Carolina, and the tree is found throughout the state, usually growing under larger forest trees and at woodland edges. With multi-season interest, it has many uses in the landscape such as a butterfly, pollinator, or children’s garden, a native or winter garden, accenting a patio or play area, a specimen, or shade tree.  

Seasons of interest:

Foliage:  Fall     Bloom:  Spring        Fruits:  Fall      Bark:  Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• Showy bracts emerge before the leaves.
• Leaves are opposite with veins that bend up toward the tip.
• Leaves have a smooth to wavy margin. 
• Bark becomes scaly to finely blocky as it matures.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Calico scale, dogwood borer, dogwood sawfly, Japanese maple scale, leafhoppers, oyster shell scale are a problem. Dogwood anthracnose is not all that common, only occurring at 1800 feet or higher elevation. Spot anthracnose is more common. Trees are also susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spot, canker, root rot and leaf, twig blight crown canker, bacterial leaf scorch, powdery mildew, and septoria leaf spot. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer, and these trees do not withstand pollution.  This tree can be challenging to grow in urban settings, other native trees should be considered (see the left hand margin for suggestions).

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.