Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.Flowering Dogwood is a lovely, spring-blooming deciduous tree. Its showy, white...
Description:
Flowering Dogwood is a lovely, spring-blooming deciduous tree. Its showy, white “flowers” (which are actually modified leaves surrounding the tiny, yellow-green, true flowers) appear April-May, offering a valuable nectar source for native bees. The flowers are followed by oval-shaped fruits, which mature to a bright red color in late summer; the fruits are a food source for birds. The green foliage turns a deep reddish-purple in the fall. Flowering Dogwood is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”). This tree prefers moist, acidic, organic soils and grows best in partly shady areas of the yard. Water during periods of drought and mulch to keep roots moist. Stressed trees are susceptible to a variety of diseases (particularly anthracnose) and insect pests. Use as a specimen tree in small yards, and in woodland or wildlife gardens.
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Tree
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Spring, Late Spring to Early Summer
Bloom Colors: Yellow, Green, White
Deer Resistance: None
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Bees and Other Pollinators, Butterflies, Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Grows in Special Ecoregions: Pinelands
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic, Neutral
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Partial Shade
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade, Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 20 - 40 ft
Spread: 20 - 40 ft
Growth Rate: Medium