Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Flowering dogwood is a small native US tree with white or pink bracts in spring, red berries for birds and rich red fall colour. Kousa dogwood (C. kousa) is a disease-resistant alternative.
Photo: Eric Hunt · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Partial sun, Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water in dry spells; mulch to keep the shallow roots cool.
Soil
Moist, acidic, humus-rich soil; pH 5.5–6.5.
Temperature and humidity
-30–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed lightly in spring.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed, stem cuttings, grafting
Prune minimally after flowering.
Not considered toxic; the berries are not for people but feed birds.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant at the edge of woodland light.
Avoid trunk damage from mowers.
UK gardeners often grow C. kousa instead.
Hardy in USDA zones 5–9.
Common problems
Anthracnose
A fungal disease that causes dark, sunken spots on leaves, flowers and fruit, especially mango, chilli and papaya.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf scorch
Brown, dry, crisp edges and patches on leaves, usually caused by too little water reaching the leaves in hot, windy or dry weather.
How to treat it →DiseaseLeaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
