Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood

Botanical name: Cornus florida

Bloom type: Perennial 

Flowering dogwood is a woody, deciduous, showy, understory tree in the dogwood family (Cornaceae) that is native from southeastern Canada through eastern North America to eastern Mexico, where it is commonly found growing in woodland margins. The species epithet is Latin for “floriferous.”

Flowering dogwood can be a tricky plant to grow in a landscape setting. 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 seeds or stem cuttings. 

Flowering dogwood is a small tree 15 to 25 feet tall. The tree is found throughout the state, usually growing under larger forest trees and at woodland edges. It is quite tolerant to heat once established and has a low flammability rating. The showy dogwood “flower” is actually a cluster of small, true flowers surrounded by four petal-like bracts. It is the state flower of North Carolina. The flowers are visited by butterflies and specialized bees, and the red fruits are a food source for songbirds and other wildlife from fall through winter.  

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.  

Quick ID Hints:

• Showy bracts emerge before the leaves.
• Leaves are opposite with veins that arch 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 and 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. 

Information sourced from the NC Master Gardener Plant Toolbox