Dogwood trees and shrubs, some of the most popular in the country, offer an unmatched four-season display of beauty. The main attraction is the appearance of the showy white or pink flowers (actually bracts) that herald the arrival of spring. Unfussy in its care requirements, the dogwood readily thrives in the home landscape and grows quickly.

On this page: The Basics | Planting | Dogwood Care & Pruning | Pictures | All-Season Beauty | Dogwood Facts | Places to See Flowering Dogwoods

On this page:

• BASICS
• PLANTING DOGWOODS
• DOGWOOD CARE & PRUNING
• DOGWOOD PICTURES
• ALL-SEASON BEAUTY
• DOGWOOD FACTS
• PLACES TO SEE DOGWOODS

BASICS

Types:

There are many types of dogwoods, ranging from small shrubs to single-trunked ornamental trees. Following is a list of some common types, some of which are American natives and others that come from Asia and Europe.

• Cornus florida: Flowering dogwood, North American native, tree
• Cornus kousa: Kousa dogwood, Asian native, tree
• Cornus alternifolia: Pagoda dogwood, North American native, large shrub or small tree
• Cornus mas: Cornelian cherry dogwood, European & Asian native, large shrub or small tree
• Cornus nuttallii: Pacific dogwood, North American native, large shrub or small tree
• Cornus sanguinea: Bloodtwig dogwood, European & Asian native, shrub
• Cornus amomum spp. obliqua: Swamp dogwood, North American native, shrub
• Cornus stolonifera: Red osier dogwood, North American native, shrub

Zones:

2-9, depending on variety

Size:

Shrubs 3 to 5 feet tall and wide; trees from 10 to 25 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 6 to 12 inches.

Exposure:

Full sun to partial or full shade, depending on variety.

Bloom time:

Mid-March through May, depending on variety.

Growth rate:

Most dogwood shrubs and trees grow quickly, with a fast rate of over a foot a year. Trees will reach full size in about a decade.

Flower color:

White is the usual color of the dogwood’s petal-like bracts, but some are pink or even pale red, such as C. florida ‘Rubra’.

Foliage:

Like other deciduous trees and shrubs, the leaves of a dogwood are green during summer and change to an attractive reddish-purple during the fall, before dropping to the ground.

Form:

Trees are rounded with horizontal branching. Dogwood bushes have an upright habit.

Are dogwoods deer resistant?

Deer resistance varies slightly between types, but for most, Rutgers rates them as seldom to occasionally damaged by deer.

PLANTING DOGWOODS

When to plant:

Plant dogwoods in the spring, before tree growth starts and when the soil is moist.

Where to plant:

Dogwoods thrive in both sun and shade, making it a great understory tree or shrub.

Soil:

Dogwoods do best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil that contains organic matter.

Planting tips:

• Dig an extra-wide hole to ensure the roots have room to grow outwards
• Don’t plant too deeply, the root flare should be above ground level
• For container grown dogwoods, loosen the root ball with a soil knife to prevent the roots from continuing to grow in the circular shape of the pot
• For bare root dogwoods, soak the roots in a bucket of water prior to planting
• Create a berm of soil around the outer edge of the root ball to hold water

Companion plants:

Plant with witch hazel, redbud and oakleaf hydrangea.

DOGWOOD CARE & PRUNING

Pruning:

Dogwood trees and shrubs have a naturally attractive shape, so they require little pruning unless needed for aesthetic reasons or to improve their vigor. The best time to prune is in the late winter (when the tree is dormant) to early spring, before new folige emerges.

Watering:

Water your dogwood on a regular basis until it is established. Then, provide additional water during hot dry spells and mulch to help retain moisture. Keep the mulch pulled back a few inches from the tree trunk. Dogwood trees prefer moist soils, with many tolerating boggy conditions, so they aren't necessarily drought tolerant.

Fertilizing:

Be careful when fertilizing a young dogwood shrub or tree—many newly planted trees are killed by applying too much fertilizer. For this reason it is often safest to hold off on fertilizing until your tree is in its second season. If you have an established dogwood that you feel would benefit from fertilization, have your soil tested to determine the best course of action. Additionally, fertilizer applied too late in the season can stimulate new growth that is vulnerable to winter damage.

Diseases:

Dogwoods are subject to anthracnose, a fungal disease that causes leaf spotting and twig dieback. Preventive measures include providing good air circulation to keep foliage dry, and watering in the summer during periods of drought. Any diseased twigs and branches should be pruned off.

Pests:

The most common insect pest is the dogwood borer, whose larvae burrow under the bark of the trunk and limbs. Because newly hatched larvae enter the tree through wounds or broken bark, avoid damage to the bark when doing lawn maintenance and don't prune from April to June when borers are most active. Infected trees can be treated by spraying with an insecticide.

DOGWOOD PICTURES

Many dogwood shrubs and trees are available for purchase online. You can expect to pay approximately $20 to $100 or more depending on the size and variety.

ALL-SEASON BEAUTY

Although the dogwood is a relatively small tree — its magnificent all-season beauty makes a big impact in the residential garden.

DOGWOOD TREE FACTS

• Americans’ love for the dogwood was inspired by two of our founding fathers. George Washington planted dogwoods at Mount Vernon, obtaining many of his trees from the surrounding forest. Thomas Jefferson planted dogwoods at Monticello in the late 1770s, which inspired Virginia lawmakers to select the American Dogwood as the state flower in 1918.
• At least 36 different species of birds feast on the dogwood’s fleshy red berries, including northern cardinals, tufted titmice, bluebirds, juncos, and waxwings. Robins, northern mockingbirds, and sparrows will also build nests on the dogwood’s horizontal branches.
• Although dogwoods have been around for centuries, they were first labeled with the term “dogtree” in 1548, derived from the word “dagwood” because the slender stems were used for making daggers, arrows, and skewers. In 1614, the name changed to “dogwood.”
• The dogwood was among the top choices for America’s National Tree in a nationwide vote hosted by the Arbor Day Foundation, ranking third behind the oak and redwood.

BEST PLACES TO SEE FLOWERING DOGWOODS

In anticipation of dogwoods bursting into bloom each spring, many states hold festivals to celebrate the event, some lasting as long as a month.

• The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is one of the oldest and has been an annual tradition since 1936.
• The Dogwood Trails Celebration in Palestine, Texas, takes place over three weekends in late March through early April, and includes a parade, barbecue cook-off, and dogwood brunch train on the Texas State Railroad.
• The Dogwood Trail Celebration in Paducah, Kentucky, can be enjoyed both day and night, with a lighted 10-mile trail that casts a luminescent glow on the white flowers after dark.

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Last updated: June 23, 2021

Related:

The Best Flowering Trees for Residential Gardens
Top Trees for Colorful Fall Foliage