General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Very strongly acid (4.5 – 5.0)
Strongly acid (5.1 – 5.5)
Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Plant Height: 20-50 feet
Plant Spread: 25-50 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Unusual foliage color
Deciduous
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Fruiting Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Flowers: Showy
Blooms on old wood
Other: the white "flowers" are actually bracts surrounding the almost insignificant flowers
Flower Color: Pink
White
Other: tiny true yellowish flowers in center, big white to rose bracts
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late winter or early spring
Spring
Uses: Flowering Tree
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Dynamic Accumulator: P (Phosphorus)
K (Potassium)
Ca (Calcium)
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Toxicity: Fruit is poisonous
Propagation: Seeds: Suitable for wintersowing
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Cuttings: Cane
Other: greenwood cuttings in spring, hardwood cuttings in summer
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Not suitable for containers
Miscellaneous: Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Flowering Dogwood
  • Eastern Dogwood
  • False Boxwood
  • Dogwood
  • Indian Arrowwood
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Cornus florida
  • Synonym: Cornus florida subsp. urbiniana
  • Synonym: Cornus florida var. urbiniana
  • Synonym: Cornus florida var. florida
Also sold as:
  • Cornus florida var. pringlei

Photo Gallery
Location: Southern Pines, NC
Date: March 29, 2023
Flowering dogwood #4; RAB p.790, 142-1-1; LHB p.747,  "Latin for
Location: Philo, California
Date: 2014-04-26
Gardeners tell me it's rare. Bought it more than 25 years ago...s
Location: In my neighborhood, Falls Church, VA
Date: 2017-11-13
Location: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Location: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Date: 2019-04-28
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: March 25, 2022
Flowering dogwood #4; RAB p.790, 142-1-1; LHB p.747,  "Latin for
Location: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Date: 2019-04-28
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2018-05-14
full-grown tree in bloom
Photo by PeggyC
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, US
Date: 2015-04-30
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-25
7-year-old dogwood in Autumn colors
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: April 1, 2022
Flowering dogwood #4; RAB p.790, 142-1-1; LHB p.747,  "Latin for
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: April 4, 2022
Flowering dogwood #4; RAB p.790, 142-1-1; LHB p.747,  "Latin for
Location: Missouri Botanical Gardens
Location: Northeastern Texas
Date: April 16, 2010
Location: Lilburn, GA
Date: 2023-10-29
Location: Wood County. TX
Date: 2023-03-11
Prime dogwood season
Location: My garden
Date: 2016-03-28
I loved the way the background was still dark and all you can see
Location: zone 8 North Central, Fl.
Date: 2017-11-19
Location: Philo, California
Date: 2014-04-23
a 25 yr.old specimen
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, US
Date: 2016-05-02
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, US
Date: 2015-04-20
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: October 3, 2021
Flowering dogwood #4; RAB p.790, 142-1-1; LHB p.747,  "Latin for
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Date: April 1, 2022
Flowering dogwood #4; RAB p.790, 142-1-1; LHB p.747,  "Latin for
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-10-05
fruit/berry split open to reveal seed inside
Location: Philo, California
Date: 2015-04-12
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2013
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2017-04-21
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-01
Horray volunteer!
Location: My Yard
Date: 2015-03-21
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Date: 2015-04-16
Location: zone 8 North Central, Fl.
Location: Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date: 2020-10-11
2020 seems to be a good year locally for fall color in Cornus flo
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-04-24
full-grown tree in bloom
Photo by robertduval14
Location: Philo, California
Date: 2014-07-05
Photo by PeggyC
Location: Arboretum de la Vallee-aux-Loups
Photo courtesy of:Liné1
Location: Western Kentucky
Date: 2012-03-26
Early spring blooms
Location: St Louis
Date: 2009-04-26
Location: Woodbridge , Va
Date: 2017-10-04
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2015-02-22
Location: Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Date: 2016-04-30
Double flowers
Location: Northeastern Texas
Date: October 2010
Fall color
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-10-04
mature and immature fruit of Cornus florida
Location: northern Delaware
Date: 2020-04-29
wild tree at Brandywine Creek State Park in bloom
Photo by robertduval14
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2012-04-19
close-up of bloom
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-11-03
autumn color of a young tree
Photo by PeggyC
Photo by PeggyC
Location: Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2015-03-14
A single flower opens to this fine 85°(a record) March day.
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-12
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, US
Date: 2014-09-17
Location: Poznań Botanical Garden of the University of Adama Mickiewicza, Poland
Date: 2022-05-10
Location: Natural area in northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-07
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-05-19
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2010-09-18
Bud for spring flower forms in the fall
Location: North Carolina  zone7
Date: November 2002
Location: Willow Valley Communities, Lakes Campus, Willow Street, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2019-05-08
Location: My Yard
Date: 2015-03-22
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-10-04
Location: Northeastern Texas
Date: April 16, 2010
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-12-06
close-up of flower buds on bare branches in December (first buds
Location: Hollis, New Hampshire
Date: August 11, 2013
Location: Hocking Hills, OH
Date: 5-7-03
Hocking Hills, OH, at Old Man's Cave ravine.
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-10-28
mature tree in fall colour
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-01-31
tree in winter
Location: My garden, Pequea, PA 17565
Date: 2016-04-23
Growing wild on the edge of my farm
Location: Capitol Park, Sacramento CA. Zone 9b
Date: 2015-03-14
This mature tree is loaded with fresh blooms that have a yellow t
Location: Falls Church, Virginia, US
Date: 2017-04-09
Location: Franklin, North Carolina
Date: 2014-05-26
Photo by rakami
Location: Japan
Date: May
Photo by KENPEI
Location: Natural area in northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-08
Bark and natural form
Location: Natural area in northeastern Indiana - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-04-07
Sepals - reverse; twigs and new leaves
Location: Northeastern Texas
Date: November, 2010
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-10-04
a white flowering variety
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-10-05
Photo by Flea
Location: Hollis, New Hampshire
Date: August 11, 2013
Photo by robertduval14
Location: northern Delaware
Date: 2020-04-29
specimen in bloom at Brandywine Creek State Park
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2011-09-19
close-up of small red fruits
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-10-28
foliage in fall colour
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2008-10-15
two trees in fall colour
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-07-26
full-grown tree in summer
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-07-23
tree in summer
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2010-07-26
summer foliage
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2007-12-20
bark and trunks
Photo by PeggyC
Location: Mississippi
Date: 2014-04-12
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-03-20
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-03-20
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-03-20
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2013-03-20
Location: Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna
Date: April
credit: Athenchen
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Comments:
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 3, 2014 3:23 PM concerning plant:
    Cornus florida is a larval host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly.

    According to NPIN, this plant has special value to native bees, and supports conservation biological control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden.

    Birds are attracted to and feed on its fruit.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Apr 30, 2020 8:56 AM concerning plant:
    The American or Eastern Flowering Dogwood is a well-known and glorious ornamental tree that is native to southern New England, lower New York, through the southeast tip of Ontario, half of lower Michigan, Indiana into the southern half of Illinois, to eastern Oklahoma and eastern Texas to northern Florida, back up to New England, growing wild on the edges and within of upland forests. It grows about 1 to 1.5 feet/year and lives about 100 to 150 years. The tree has a wonderful horizontal, tiered, wishbone branching habit with the branchlet tips turned upward. Its bark is gray-brown and goes from being smooth when young to scaly to blocky. The opposite, simple leaves are 3 to 6 inches long by 1.5 to 2 inches wide with a pointed apex. The foliage turns a good orange-red to scarlet in the fall. The true flowers are small, greenish-yellow in compact heads in the middle, surrounded by 4 large white bracts, occasionally pink or rose, where these flowering bracts are rounded on the ends with a small notch at the end, and bloom in late April to early May before the leaves emerge. The fruits are small, bright red drupes to 1/2 inch long, in clusters, and are of high food value to birds and some mammals; not edible for humans. The root pattern is deep, coarse, lateral but the plant can be dug and moved in early spring. This is a very popular ornamental tree sold at most any nursery in or around its native range. In my native Chicago, IL, area this species often has not thrived because the soil needs to be more acid. However, I have seen some nice trees occasionally in part-shade and good quality soil recently in the region. In the 1990's a Discula canker & leaf blight fungus disease from east Asia was introduced into the eastern US and a good number of trees died or were damaged. This freaked everybody out, and the Kousa Dogwood from east Asia was planted a lot instead. Fortunately, since after the turn of the century past 2000, I still see a large number of Eastern Flowering Dogwoods doing well in southeast Pennsylvania in landscapes and some wild in the woods.
    (I don't like the Kousa Dogwood because of its huge, red aggregate fruits that nothing really eats, except for Yellowjackets feeding on messy, rotting fruit on the ground. The Asian species has a stiff branching habit that is not as nice. It has pretty mottled bark and its sharp-pointed flowers bloom in late May into June.)
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Oct 5, 2011 8:29 AM concerning plant:
    Numerous species of birds feed on the red ripe fruit of Dogwood trees, swallowing the entire berry. The seeds inside the fruit are undamaged and softened in the digestive process. They are then passed in bird droppings to be scattered and "planted" many places. Other animals such as squirrels eat and destroy the seeds from the center of the fruit and leave the surrounding meat of the fruit untouched.
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Apr 1, 2012 2:35 PM concerning plant:
    Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant.
  • Posted by robertduval14 (Milford, New Hampshire - Zone 5b) on Apr 15, 2013 9:44 PM concerning plant:
    North Carolina and Virginia's state flower.
  • Posted by Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Nov 16, 2011 1:24 AM concerning plant:
    In older times, as the dogwood began to bloom in spring, it signaled to the Native Americans that it was time to plant corn. They used the dogwood tree medicinally too. The bark was simmered in water and the extract was used to relieve sore and aching muscles. They made a tea of the bark to promote sweating, to relieve fevers. At one time during the Civil War, when quinine was not available, tea from the dogwood tree bark was used to treat malaria.

    Those are ancient beliefs and there is no reason now to believe they are true. But there is one fact that I know to be true: when the dogwoods are blooming the fish are biting in Kentucky and Barkley Lakes!
Plant Events from our members
plumbfarie On March 31, 2022 Maintenance performed
Prune dead branches-shape
WebTucker On March 25, 2022 Bloomed
WebTucker On October 3, 2021 Fruit Ripened
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Discussion Threads about this plant
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neat shot! by Onewish1 Nov 23, 2012 12:10 PM 3

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