Ghost Dogwood Cornus wilsoniana

Wilson's Dogwood is deciduous to a semi-evergreen shrub or small tree that has showy, ghost-white bark on the trunks of its mature trees. The plant has small white flower clusters that appear in the spring, and purplish-black berries are present in the fall.

This plant is native to Central and Southern China and is found in forests. Presently, it may be found in collections or commercially in North America, Europe, and Australia.

The genus name, Cornus, is Latin for the word, cornu, which means "horn." This references the hardness of the wood. The species name, wilsoniana, honors Ernest Wilson who collected this plant in the 1900s. The common name, Wilson's Dogwood also references Ernest Wilson. The ghost-white bark that is found on mature trunks of this tree resulted in another common name, Ghost Dogwood.

Wilson's Dogwood may be planted in full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained, organically rich, and acidic soils. It performs best in cooler summer climates. It is important to keep this plant consistently moist and provide adequate mulch.

The most prominent and attractive feature of this plant is its ghost-white smooth bark. The attractive flowers in the spring and fruits in the early fall, make this plant a good candidate for year-round specimen interest in the landscape. 

 Seasons of Interest:  Bloom:  Spring    Fruits:  Fall    Bark:  Winter

Quick ID Hints:

• Ghost white bark on mature trees
• Papery grayish-green leaves with fine white hairs on the undersides
• Small white flowers that grow in clusters in the spring
• Small purplish-black berries appear in the fall

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems. Occasional pests include borers, leaf miners, and scale. Canker, leaf spot, and root rot may occur. This species is thought to be resistant to twig blight.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.