Flowering Dogwood or Cornus Florida:
Flowering dogwood is the state tree of Virginia and Missouri and the state flower of North Carolina. Flowering dogwood opens white flowers in April, usually before the leaf display, and will show up any landscape plant. If planted on a hospitable site and under a canopy of larger trees, the tree grows fast, sleek and slim - it is less sleek and more husky when grown in open sun. Unfortunately, the tree is is often planted on dry, sunny and alkaline soils.
Habit and Range:
Dogwood grows readily from seed but is not easy to transplant. Always move dogwood with a complete root ball in the early spring and place the transplant a little high in the planting hole. Understory dogwood is a medium tree of about 40' with wispy stems. The dogwood occupies a large eastern north-south range in North America - from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The tree is not very hardy if planted beyond its genetic home region so pick a local variety.
Strong Cultivars:
'Cherokee Chief', 'Cherokee Princess', 'First Lady', 'Rubra', 'New Hampshire', 'Appalachain Spring'
Identification of Flowering Dogwood:
Flowering Dogwood Plant Hardiness Zone:
Expert Comments:
"The king of spring in the eastern United States and southern Ontario, flowering dogwood may be the most spectacular flowering tree native to our region." - Guy Sternberg, Native Trees for North American Landscapes
"Small, stunning ornamental trees of early spring, with long-lasting summer beauty and red fall color. Their unique blossoms inspire myths, festivals, and vandalism."- Arthur Plotnik, The Urban Tree Book
"Many gardeners consider this species the aristocrat of small flowering trees, and this claim is not unjustified...The handsome 3-to 4-in.-diameter, white flowers open in April and May, usually before the leaves, and are the envy of every landscape plant."- Michael Dirr, Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs
