photo of Cornus florida

Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood

register or login to use the plant listPlease register or login to build your personal plant list.

Flowering Dogwood is a lovely, spring-blooming deciduous tree. Its showy, white...

See Details Below

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