Cornus florida
An eastern U.S. native understory tree with showy spring white bracts and vivid fall color, bears bright red fruits that attract birds, grows in acidic, well-drained soils from full sun to partial shade, and is Virginia’s state tree
Common Names
Flowering Dogwood, Dogwood, Eastern Flowering Dogwood, White Dogwood, White Cornel
Summary
Flowering dogwood is a deciduous understory tree native to eastern North America, typically growing 15–35 feet tall and 15–40 feet wide, with a broad, layered crown and gray-brown, blocky bark. Its spring blooms arise from four bracts surrounding a small head of yellow-green true flowers; bracts may be white, pink, or red depending on cultivar, while the species color is white. Fall foliage turns red to maroon, and bright red fruits attract wildlife. It is hardy in USDA zones 5–9 and prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils that are acidic to mildly neutral, with full sun to partial shade; mulching 2–4 inches helps keep roots cool and moist. Prune sparingly after flowering to maintain health, and select disease-resistant cultivars to reduce risk of anthracnose and other issues; it can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, grafting, layering, or root division. In landscapes it serves as a specimen or screen plant, near patios or in borders, and its fruits attract wildlife.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
15-30 feet
Spread
15-30 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun, Partial Sun, or Partial Shade, Full Shade is not ideal.
Soil Type
Rich, loamy, well-drained soil with acidic to neutral pH
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil; moist but well-drained is ideal, preferably deep, rich, slightly acidic soil with ample organic matter and sandy or loamy textures.
Soil pH
6.0-7.0, Slightly acidic to neutral, Tolerates acidic to slightly alkaline soils
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring (April–May)
Foliage Color
Green, turning red to reddish-purple in autumn.
Fall Foliage Color
Red to reddish-purple hues
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Moderate growth rate; roughly 0.25–0.50 m per year in early growth.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds, bees, and butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 117 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Cornales
- Family
- Cornaceae
- Genus
- Cornus
Synonyms
Benthamia florida Benthamidia florida Benthamidia florida var. pendula Benthamidia florida f. pendula Benthamidia florida var. rubra Benthamidia florida f. rubra Benthamidia florida var. urbiniana Benthamidia florida f. xanthocarpa Cornus candidissima Cornus florida var. florida Cornus florida var. pendula Cornus florida f. pluribracteata Cornus florida f. purpurea Cornus florida var. rosea Cornus florida var. rubra Cornus florida f. rubra Cornus florida var. urbiniana Cornus florida subsp. urbiniana Cornus florida var. xanthocarpa Cornus florida f. xanthocarpa Cornus urbiniana Cynoxylon floridum Cynoxylon floridum var. rubrum Cynoxylon florida Cornus florida f. florida Benthamidia florida var. urbiniana Cynoxylon floridum Cornus florida f. pendula Benthamidia florida f. pluribracteata Cornus florida var. rubra Cynoxylon floridum var. pendulum