A family of 40ish trees and shrubs for temperate climates that prefer sun to partial shade and well drained, fertile, acidic to neutral soil.
The bracted Dogwoods are grown from seed as well as semi-hardened cuttings.
The other Dogwoods are grown from either seed or hardwood cuttings in late summer or autumn.
The seed on all Dogwoods should be cleaned of flesh, soaked for 24 hours and cold treated for 3 months before sowing for best results.
Cornus alba ( Tatarian Dogwood )
A very vigorous, shrub Dogwood that spreads to form dense thickets in the wild. The Tatarian Dogwood is native to eastern Asia and can reach 8 feet or more or more rarely on wet sites to 17 x 20 feet.
The oval, dark green foliage turns to orange and red in autumn. The leaves are up to 5 x 2.5 inches in size. The late spring flowers are tiny and creamy-white being borne in flat topped clusters. They are followed by small blue tinged white fruits.
The young stems are intense red and look great against a snowy background.
Hardy from zones 1 to 7 in full sun; even grows well in Alberta, Canada.
Propagation is from hardwood cuttings taken during fall or winter as well as softwood cuttings taken during summer.
* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
Argenteo-Marginata
creamy white-edged foliage. Reaches up to 6 x 8 feet in 5 years, eventually more.
Aurea
Light golden-green foliage contrasting with red stems.
Reaches up to 6 x 8 feet in 5 years, eventually more.
Behnschii
Foliage is variegated white and red
Cream Cracker
identical to Gouchaltii except that it is resistant to leaf spot
Elegantissima
Vigorous. Gray-green foliage edged white. Stems are red.
* photo taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photo taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
Gouchaltii
Foliage is green, variegated with white and red.
* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
Ivory Halo
Foliage is mid-green with creamy white borders.
Reaches up to 5 x 8 feet in 5 years, eventually 6.5 feet in height. The stems are scarlet-red.
Kesselringii
Foliage is bronze in spring, turning to deep green in summer then crimson in fall.
Vigorous, with stems that are black-purple.
Sibirica
Glowing scarlet red stems and does not sucker as heavily as the species. Often cut to ground in early spring and grown almost as a perennial since the first year stems are the most intense in color. The foliage often colors nicely to red during autumn.
* photos taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
Sibirica Variegata
Glowing red stems and deep green foliage with creamy white borders. Reaches up to 6 x 9 feet in 5 years, eventually more.
Spaethii
Very vigorous. Bright green leaves boldly variegated gold. Red winter stems.
Cornus alternifolia ( Pagoda Dogwood )
Native to dry slope woodlands in eastern North America from southern Manitoba to Nova Scotia; south to Arkansas to Tennessee and Virginia. It is a small tree with horizontal tiered branches and can reach up to 25 feet in height or more. The largest on record is 50 x 45 feet with a trunk diameter up to 2 feet.
Moderate to fast growing; it can reach up to 20 x 20 feet in 10 years.
The alternate, oval, taper pointed foliage is up to 6 x 3.5 inches in size. The foliage is medium green and smooth above, bluish and hairy below, turning red & purple-red in autumn.
The creamy white early summer flowers are followed by round blue-black berries up to 0.5 inches across. Berry crops tend to be sparse where summers are not hot.
The bark is red-brown and ridged with age. The wood is about 41 pounds per square foot.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in sun or shade. Likes cool, deep, rich, acid well drained soil. Even grows well in Winnipegs harsh climate. Best time to transplant is early April.
* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario
* photos taken on August 4 2010 @ Woodlands Arboretum, Clinton, Ontario
* photos taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
Argentea
delicate apprearance on this small tiered branched tree. Foliage is edged white.
Golden Shadows
Exceptionally vigorous for a variegated Dogwood; this cultivar can reach up to 20 x 15 feet in 10 years.
It has very attractive deep green foliage with a bold, bright yellow margin.
The flowers are white.
Variegata
reaches up to 15 x 20 feet in size
Cornus ammomum ( Silky Dogwood )
A vigorous dense shrub reaching up to 13 feet with the largest on record being 17 x 28 feet. Records: first year - 18 inches; 10 years - 10 x 17 feet.
The foliage is up to 5 inches in length. It is deep green in summer and reddish-brown below and turns to red in autumn. The leaves hang from purple stems.
The white late spring flowers in clusters up to 2.5 inches wide are followed in autumn by dark blue fruits.
The young shoots are downy purplish.
Hardy zones 3b to 8 and flood tolerant.
* photos taken on June 17 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Oct 19 2013 in Columbia, MD
ECOS
much more drought tolerant
Indigo Silky
Fast growing to 10 x 16 feet in 10 years eventually reaching up to 17 feet in width. Foliage remains on plant late into autumn.
Purplish flowers. Hardy north to zone 3
Virescens
branches are lime green in winter
Cornus angustata ( Omei Dogwood )
A vigorous, dense, small to medium-sized tree, reaching a maximum size of 33 x 33 feet. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 2 feet. It basically looks like an evergreen Kousa Dogwood.
The foliage resembles that of the Kousa Dogwood. The oval leaves are up to 6 x 2.5 inches in size. The foliage is polished mid-green, turning to reddish-purple on some trees during winter.
The white flowers are followed by fruits, up to 1 inch in length.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on just about any well drained soil, enjoying hot humid summers and thriving as far south as Savannah, Georgia. It is not generally bothered by insect pests or disease but prefers a site that is somewhat protected from wind. Any semi wooded area is perfect for this tree. The Omei Dogwood is best pruned to a main leader and limbed up when young
* photo taken Feb 2009 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photo taken on 4th of July @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Cornus australis ( Black Sea Dogwood )
A small tree native to Asia Minor reaching up to 26 x 42 feet with a trunk diameter of 1.2 feet, this Dogwood is a moderate grower with the fastest rate recorded being 2 feet. The deciduous leaves are ovate and up to 5 inches in length. The tiny white flowers are in clusters up to 2 inches across. The fruits are dark purple and up to 0.4 inches in size and carried in flattened clusters. Extremely rare in the U.S., a large tree grows at Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.
Cornus canadensis ( Bunchberry )
A moderate growing, rhizomatous spreading, low, deciduous shrubby perennial native to much of Canada, Greenland and Alaska. It can carpet quite an extensive area and reach up to 1 x 13 feet in size.
The broadly-ovate foliage reaches up to 3.5 x 1.6 inches in size and turns to brilliant scarlet red in fall. The leaves are usually in groups of 4 whorled at the tops of the stems.
The white bracted ( early summer ) flowers are large conisidering the size of the plant and are followed by bunches of scarlet red edible fruit in late summer.
Hardy zones 1 to 6 ( tolerating -50 F ) prefers partial to full shade on cool, moist, fertile, acidic soil. Propagation is from division and seed.
* photos taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
* photo taken by E.S. Shipp @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
* photo taken by H.L. Shantz @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
* photos taken by Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA NRCS. 1995. Northeast wetland flora
Cornus capitata ( Himalayan Dogwood )
a bushy, semi-evergreen to evergreen tree native from the Himalayas to China. Moderate growing to 40 feet. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 3 feet; 20 years - 27 x 20 feet; largest on record - 80 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 27 inches. The Himalayan Dogwood grows very well in western Europe and has reached up to 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet in Ireland.
The oval, foliage is downy at first, turning leathery, gray green above and paler below. The leaves are up to 5.3 x 2 inches in size.
The flowers are tiny and surrounded by much larger, showy, light yellow bracts in late spring. The entire flower structure is up to 6 inches across.
The flowers are followed by rose colored decorative fruits.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 and tolerant of coastal conditions.
Do not transplant at sizes above 5 feet.
Mountain Moon
Vigorous ( avg 17 feet in 15 years ) with large yellow flowers, up to 4 inches across. The edible, crimson red fruits to 2 inches in length.
Cornus chinensis
A vigorous, upright, open tree reaching around 30 feet or more, with a maximum size of 66 x 60 feet.
The elliptic, deciduous leaves are conspicuously veined, pale green above, downy below and up to 6 inches in length.
In late winter, the yellow flowers appear on bare branches before the leaves.
This tree resembles Cornus mas in appearance, except the fruits are black instead of red.
Hardy zones 6 to 10
Cornus controversa ( Giant Dogwood )
A large tree native to China & Japan reaching up to 54 x 54 feet in 20 years and eventually up to 80 feet. The largest on record is 100 x 55 feet and 2.6 feet in diameter. Fast growing, it is known to reach up to 8 feet in 2 years and the fastest growth rate recorded is 6 feet. The Giant Dogwood has an interesting tiered spreading branching habit.
The oval, pointed leaves are large reaching up to 8 x 4 inches and carried on leafstalks up to 5 inches in length. The foliage is glossy dark green above & downy below turning to red & purple in fall.
The tiny white flowers occur in flattened clusters up to 7 inches across in May.
The flowers are followed by small, round, blue-black fruits ripening Sep. to October.
The Giant Dogwood is moderately salt, chalk & lime tolerant and also free of diseases. It makes a great street tree. Young tree should be pruned to a single leader and feathered.
Hardy zones 3 to 8
* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD
* photos taken on Aug 1 2013 in Stratford, Ontario
Janine
Much faster growing than Variegata and has gold edge foliar variegation. Outstanding!
Pagoda
abundant white flowers
Variegata
drooping foliage with broad creamy white margins.
maximum size of 30 x 30 feet in 10 years; eventually more.
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD
* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Cornus coreana ( Korean Dogwood )
Native to Korea and northeast China, this Dogwood is not well known but has attractive oval, deep green foliage ( up to 5 inches long ) and tiny white flowers that are packed into dense, 3 inch clusters. Reaches up to 20 feet or more with a trunk diameter around 9 inches in 20 years; eventually to 66 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet.
The fruit is a round, red-purple berry up to 1.3 inches wide.
It is closely related to Cornus walteri) and Cornus sanguinea.
Hardy north to at least zone 6
* photo taken on March 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Cornus drummondii ( Drummond Dogwood )
Native to central North America from South Dakota to southern Ontario; south to central Texas to Alabama; this is a large shrub or small tree similar to C. racemosa but with a strong central leader and minimal suckering. Fast growing and reaching up to 15 feet tall and wide on average though the largest on record is 50 x 15 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet. The ellptical, smooth edged leaves are up to 5 inches in length. They are rough textured and deep green above, pale grayish below.
The small white flowers that are borne in clusters in early summer are later replaced by 0.25 inch round, white berries in late summer.
Hardy zone 4 to 8 and very drought tolerant
Cornus Eddies White Wonder
A deciduous upright tree with somewhat pendulous outer branches that is the hybrid between Cornus florida & C. nuttallii. It can reach 13 feet in 5 years and eventually to 50 feet. The maximum size is probably around 70 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet. Moderate growing, the maximum growth rate is 3 feet per year.
It is typically faster growing and larger than the Flowering Dogwood. Easier to grow and more adaptable than the other parent Cornus nuttallii.
Its broadly elliptic pointed tip foliage reaches up to 7 inches in length. The foliage is glossy dark green above & gray hairy beneath. In autumn it turns brilliant purple, red and orange often with all colors on the same plant.
In mid to late spring it provides an excellent display of large white blooms that are much larger than that of the Flowering Dogwood though still including 4 white bracts surrounding a dense cluster of tiny green flowers.
The fruits are small & red.
The bark is generally gray and smooth
Hardy zones 5 to 8 tolerating as low as -20 F
Cornus florida ( Flowering Dogwood )
A highly ornamental tree native to eastern North America from Michigan to New Hampshire; south to east Texas to central Florida. The Flowering Dogwood can reach up to 40 feet. The largest on record is 70 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter up to 3 feet.
Some very large Flowering Dogwoods grow at Glenwood Park in Norfolk, VA & north cemetary in Morenci, MI & ne of Thamesville in Kent County, Ontario ( 43 feet -Canada record ). Usually moderate growing, the maximum growth rate is 3 feet per year.
The Flowering Dogwood can live up to 150 years.
The oval pointed leaves up to 7 x 4 inches are smooth dark green above and whitish & softly hairy below. They turn brilliant crimson often mixed with orange & purple in autumn. The leaves typically appear somewhat early in spring.
The late spring flowers are tiny and green in clusters but are surrounded by 4 large petal like bracts ( to 2 inches in length ) that are typically white ( or sometimes pink in subsp. Rubrum ).
The clustered berries are red, oval and sometimes remain on the tree through the winter.
The bark is deeply cracked in to small squarish plates and is red-brown in color. The wood is heavy around 50 ibs. per square foot.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 but requires cool, acidic, well drained soil. Trees from the southern part of the range will dieback in winters in the north so it is recommended to buy trees at a local nursery run by professional horticulturalists. The Flowering Dogwood prefers hot summers and does not grow nearly so well in the cool summers of western Europe.
Since 1992 90% of trees in wild in Tennessee & southeast U.S. have died as is the case at Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland. In areas where anthracnose is causing the wholesale destruction of native Cornus florida, the only solution is planting resistant varieties which luckily do exist. Unfortunately that is little consolation to our native woodlands are loosing their biodiversity tree by tree due to exotic insects & disease. Besides the main killer Anthracnose; other problems of Flowering Dogwood can be borer, pollution & drought. The Flowering Dogwood also doesnt like compaction, clay and excessive wind. Flowering Dogwood can be propagated from planting the seed outdoors after removing the fleshy coat. The cultivars can also be reproduced from cuttings taken during late spring.
* photo taken October 1996 in Leamington, Ontario
* photo taken in Clarksville, MD
* photos taken in Columbia, MD
* photos from morguefile.com
Rubra
* photos taken on October 24 2010 in Ellicott City, MD
* photos taken on April 20 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Sep 27 2013 in Laurel, MD
* photo taken on Oct 17 2013 in Olney, MD
* photos taken on Oct 19 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Nov 6 2013 in Columbia, MD
Appalatian Spring
Vigorous growing up to 20 feet in 10 years. The deep green foliage is larger than species and is disease resistant. The entire blooms including the bracts are up to 5 inches across. The flowers are white.
This cultivar was discovered in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland and after repeated testing has been proven to be resistant to anthracnose making it extremely valuable for both cultivation and restoring native forests. The cultivar Appalatian Blush is similar, except with flowers that are white and deepening to pink at the edges.
* photo taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on April 13 2010 in Columbia, MD
Apple Blossum
Pale pink in bloom.
Cherokee Brave
A very vigorous new variety with deep red flowers and mildew resistant foliage that is burgundy at first turning to rich shiny dark green then back to red in autumn.
It is also more anthracnose and mildew resistant than most cultivars.
Cherokee Chief
Foliage is reddish at first turning dark green. Deep-pink bracts.
Cherokee Princess
Upright & vigorous; Anthracnose & Canker resistant! Foliage is large and glossy green in summer and the flowers are white.
Cherokee Sunset
Vigorous with light red flowers. It is mildew & anthracnose resistant. The lush green leaves are variegated with yellow edges and the foliage turns to red in the fall.
* photos taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
Dixie Columnnade
fast growing with a narrow, very upright, columnar habit and white flowers. It can reach 20 feet in as little as 10 years and is excellent used against buildings or as a tall screen. Very rare.
First Lady
Yellow edges foliage and white flowers. Otherwise similar to regular Cornus florida.
* photos taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
Gigantea
Entire blooms including bracts up to 6 inches in width.
Pluribracteata
More anthracnose and mildew resistant than the species, with double white flowers that open later and last longer than the species.
The large leaves are glossy deep green, turning to red-purple during autumn.
Purple Glory
Rapid growing with red flowers and foliage that is purple all season.
Spring Grove
Anthracnose resistant with large white flower bracts up to 2.5 inches in length.
Spring Song
Deep green foliage often has bronze tinge in full sun and turns to red & purple in fall. The blooms are intense pink.
* photos taken on April 13 2010 in Columbia, MD
Urbaniana
Reaching up to 60 feet in height. Large blue-green foliage to 8.5 x 4 inches in retained later in the fall. Tolerant of temperatures as high as 115 F.
The flowers are unique with the white petals fused at the tips creating a lantern shape.
Welchii
dark green leaves edged white & pink; turn to scarlet red & purple in fall. Flowers are white.
White Cloud
dark green foliage sometimes with a bronze tinge in full sun turns to red & purple in fall. The blooms are white.
Cornus foemina ( Swamp dogwood )
A large deciduous shrub, reaching around 12 feet or sometimes more, that is native to the southeastern U.S. ( Missouri to Indiana to New Jersey; south to Texas to Florida ). The largest on record 27 x 24 feet with a trunk diameter of 0.7 feet.
Hardy zones 5 to 9.
Cornus glabrata ( Brown Dogwood )
Native from Oregon to California, it is fast growing large shrub that can be a small umbrella shaped tree to 20 x 20 feet if trained. The largest on record is 40 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 foot. The foliage is elliptic up to 3 inches in length. The bark is whitish. Hardy north to zone 6. Not widely grown in the East however it likely grows well. Reported to reach 5 feet in 2 years in North Carolina.
Cornus hongkongii
A large evergreen Dogwood native to Hong Kong that can reach up to 82 feet in height.
The elliptic, green, foliage can reach up to 7 x 3 inches in size and the mid spring flowers are white. The fruits are red and the bark is gray. This tree is only hardy north to zone 9
Cornus kousa ( Kousa Dogwood )
A small to medium size vase shape tree native to Korea & Japan. It can reach up to 50 x 30 feet in 20 years and rarely grows larger. The largest on record is 50 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 5.7 ( rarely over 2 ) feet.
Some very large trees grow in Longwood Gardens, PA; Calvert Co., MD and even a tree of 30 x 30 feet in the much more harsh climate of Denver, Colorado.
Usually moderate growing, the maximum recorded growth rate is 3 feet. Very long-lived, Kousa Dogwoods as old as 1300 years are known.
The oval, smooth edged, pointed foliage is wavy edges and up to 5 x 2.5 inches. The glossy dark green and smooth foliage turns to scarlet & crimson red in fall.
The tiny green clustered flowers are surrounded by large showy creamy white bracts appearing in early summer after the tree is in full leaf lasting up to 6 weeks.
The pendant fruits are rounded, red, strawberry-like, fleshy and up to an inch across.
The very attractive bark is red-brown and exfoliating.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 but grows poorly on shallow alkaline soils or hard clay.
The Kousa Dogwood is heat tolerant and rarely bothered by pests or diseases incl. borers.
* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD
* photos taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA
* photo taken on Sep 10 2011 in Columbia, MD
Avalanche
flower bud hardy to -30 F.
Blue Shadow
Extremely attractive glossy blue-green foliage all season.
China Girl
Fast growing and mildew resistant with massive blooms up to 8 inches across lasting up to 8 weeks.
Orange to red fall color can be very intense.
Galilean
Rapid growing with a strongly vase shape habit, eventually becomming rounded. Reaches up to 25 x 20 feet in only 10 years. The huge deep green leaves are double the average size of the species and the flowers are also larger.
The fruits look like large Strawberries.
Fully hardy north to zone 4.
Gold Star
Golden-yellow centered foliage that colors intensely red during autumn.
* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore, PA
Heart Throb
Vigorous, large tree with deep green foliage and deep rose red blooms up to 4 inches across lasting up to 2 months.
* photos taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
Milky Way
Mildew resistant
* photos taken on Sep 15 2013 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on Oct 1 2013 in Howard Co., MD
Moonbeam
Huge blooms are white and up to 8 inches in width. tolerating as low as -20 F.
Raulston
a good evergreen form for the south.
Red Select
Red tinged new foliage that turns to deep green then to spectacular red in autumn.
The large red fruit look like cherries.
Samaritan
Fast growing being much more vigorous than Wolf Eyes becomming a tree up to 20 x 15 feet in 10 years; eventually 25 x 20 feet or more.
The foliage is green variegated creamy white all summer and turns to burgundy variegated pink in autumn. This cultivar originated from Milky Way
Satomi
Fast growing, reaching up to 15 feet in 6 years. The flowers are deep pink fading to creamy-white towards the center. The glossy deep green foliage turns rich purplish-red during autumn.
Summer Stars
flower season lasts up to 6 weeks or more
Variegata
white edged foliage. Growth rate up to 1.5 feet per year.
Wolf Eyes
Slow growing, often only reaching 6 x 6 feet in 10 years; eventually reaching up to 10 feet.
The very attractive foliage is deep green with a bold white border. The foliage colors to red, often with pink border, during autumn.
The flowers are white.
very hardy north to zone 4
* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD
* photos taken on Sep 14 2012 in Ellicott City, MD
Cornus macrophylla ( Bigleaf Dogwood )
A very attractive tree native to China, Japan & the Himalayas reaching up to 50 feet with the largest on record being 82 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 3.1 feet. Moderate growing the fastest growth rate on record is 4.5 feet.
The strongly veined, slender tipped, wavy margined, deciduous foliage is the largest of the Dogwoods and is up to 11 x 5 inches in size. The leaves are smooth and shiny dark green above and thinly hairy light blue-green below, turning to red in fall.
It also leafs out late in spring.
The tiny creamy white flowers are borne in loose flattened clusters up to 6 inches across in mid summers.
They are followed by clusters of 0.25 inch rounded fruits that ripen from green to red purple to blue-black.
Even its light green stems are very attractive.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 preferring full sun on just about any well drained soil. It is very tolerant of hot humid summers and grows very well in the Mid Atlantic region of the U.S. Very easy to grow from seed or cuttings.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum @ Swarthmore College, PA
* photos taken on Oct 6 2012 in Columbia, MD
Cornus mas ( Cornelian Cherry )
Native to southern Europe and western Asia, the Cornelian Cherry is a small sturdy tree reaching up to 25 feet. The largest on record is 60 x 40 feet with a diameter up to 2.3 feet. Moderate growing, the fastest growth rate recorded being 4 feet.
The oval pointed leaves are deeply veined, short stemmed and reach up to 5 x 3.5 inches in size. They are dark green in summer turning to red-purple in fall.
The small but abundant, yellow, long-lasting flowers are clustered and appear in late winter to very early spring. They are amazingly cold tolerant, undamaged by frost.
The red berries, up to 0.5 inches in length, appear late summer to mid autumn.
They are used for jams, jellies, wine, juices and baking. Fruit on ornamental or seedling Cornus mas is often small and very tart. Some improved varieties taste awesome just like Sweet Cherry and are very high in vitamin C. They yield in 3 years and eventually up to 40 pounds per plant. Multiple trees are not needed for fruit production to occur.
The bark is light beige, very rough and peeling. The twigs are reddish-brown.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 tolerating as low as -30 F. Prefers sun and is tolerant of wind, drought, urban conditions, clay and alkaline soil. The Cornelian Cherry is not prone to pests or disease. Clones from the Ukraine tend to be more drought tolerant.
Cornelian Cherries look best trained to a single stem tree and limbed up.
Propagate from softwood cuttings taken during summer.
* photos taken on March 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum
* photo taken on August 4 2010 @ Stratford, Ontario
* photos taken on Mar 23 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photo taken on Mar 7 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
Aurea
Foliage is yellow during spring, turning to lime-green during summer.
Elegantissima
The leaves are deep green with yellow and pink margins.
Golden Glory
Larger leaves, reaching up to 8 x 3 inches, are glossy deep green, turning to red in fall. The profuse flowers are yellow.
Pest free.
Jolico
Very large fruits that are 3 times larger than the classic wild form.
Macrocarpa
bears glossy red fruit up to 1.5 inches in size.
Pioneer
Sweet dark red fruit up to 1.5 inches
Pyramidalis
upright habit
Red Dawn
from the Ukraine has large sweet bright red fruit and is especially vigorous and disease resistant.
Red Star
Sweet-tasting, juicy, oval fruits, up to 1.3 inches in length, are dark red.
Spring Grove
A vigorous tree bearing few or no suckers.
The very attractive foliage is leathery and glossy deep green.
The abundant flowers are bright yellow.
Violacea.
fruits are violet purple
Cornus monbeigii
Also called Cornus schindleri; is closely related to Cornus macrophylla.
It is native to mixed montane and cloud forests in northwest Yunnan Province of China and is rapidly declining and endangered due to destruction of forests.
It can reach a maximum size 33 feet with a trunk diameter of 22 inches in 30 years however rarely gets much larger even with great age. Some records include: largest trunk diameter - 26 inches. Succeeds in sun or light shade and is very tolerant of heavy clay. Hardy north to zone 7
Cornus Norman Hadden
A large, spreading tree that is the hybrid between Cornus capitata & C. kousa.
It becomes a tree to 40 feet or more; with the record being 70 x 50 feet.
The semi-evergreen foliage is deep green in color turning to deep red in the fall. The abundant early summer flowers are tiny and surrounded by large bracts that are creamy white later turning to deep pink.
The flowers are followed by a heavy crop of edible, pendant, pink-orange fruits.
Hardy zones 5 to 9
Cornus nuttallii
Native to the Pacific Northwest from British Columbia to California; this Dogwood becomes a moderate growing, medium size tree to 60 feet or sometimes larger. Records include: growth rate - 3 feet; 20 years - 40 x 20 feet; largest ever recorded - 120 x 50 feet with trunk diameter of 4.5 feet.
The smooth edged, oval leaves are short-stemmed, shiny deep green in color turning to glowing red during autumn. They reach up to 8 x 3.5 inches in size.
The small, late spring flowers are surrounded by 4 to 8 large white bracts.
Including the bracts; the flowers are up to 6 inches across.
This Dogwood sometimes repeat blooms in early autumn.
They are followed by attractive, small, orange-red fruits.
The bark is generally red-brown and smooth unlike that of Cornus florida.
This Dogwood is not recommended for the humid summer eastern U.S. ( prone to anthracnose ) and also does poorly on shallow, chalky soils. It prefers deep, cool, light, acidic, well drained soils and dry summers.
Hardy zones 7 to 9. This beautiful tree is unfortunately threatened by the introduced anthracnose fungus in much of its native range.
Barrick
Extremely fast growing with consistant repeat blooming in the fall.
Growth rates as much as 5 feet are possible on ideal sites.
The flowers are very large, up to 8 inches across.
Boyds Hardy
Hardier and known to have survived -19 F in Tennessee.
Colrigo Giant
Very vigorous with huge, heavy textured leaves up to 8.7 x 5 inches in size.
The flowers including the bracts are also massive, up to 8 inches across.
Gold Spot
foliage is splashed and spotted in yellow.
North Star
Strong and vigorous with purple stems. The foliage is purplish in spring before turning deep green towards summer.
Cornus obliqua ( Silky Dogwood )
Native to eastern North America from Kansas to Quebec. It is a shrub reaching up to 15 feet with deciduous, oval, pointed leaves to 4 inches in length that are grayish-white beneath.
The summer flowers are white and are borne in clusters.
The branches are purple in winter.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 and prefers wet soil. An excellent choice for swampy sites.
Cornus occidentalis
A large spreading shrub similar to C. sericea; that is native from British Columbia to California. It is moderate growing and reaches about 15 feet though the record is larger at 26 x 36 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 foot.
The leaves are deep green, and up to 6 x 2 inches in size.
The flowers are white and the branches are dark purple.
Hardy north to zone 6
Cornus officinalis ( Japanese Cornel )
A spreading deciduous tree native to China and Korea that is very similar to Cornus mas - Cornelian Cherry. Typically growing around 25 feet; it can become larger on ideal sites. Some records include: growth rate - 3.5 feet; largest ever recorded - 50 x 35 feet with a trunk diameter of 1.5 feet. Large trees grow at Longwood Gardens near Philly, PA.
The oval leaves are up to 5.5 x 3 inches in size and turn glowing red during autumn.
In late winter it provides brilliant displays of yellow flowers on bare stems and later in the year provides displays of edible, bright red fruits.
The flowers typically appear 2 weeks before that of Cornus mas.
The attractive bark is brown and flaking.
Hardy from zones 4 to 8 and is an excellent landscape tree for the Midwest and Eastern North America. Very tolerant of heat and humidity.
* photos taken on March 28 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Kinkaki
* photo taken on Mar 23 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Morton
thick, glossy, dark green leaves
Cornus omeiensis
A small evergreen tree native to China. Some records include: 15 years - 23 feet; largest on record - 33 feet.
The foliage is coppery at first, turning to glossy green.
The flowers are creamy yellow.
Hardy north to zone 7
Cornus paucinervis
A large shrub to small tree, that is native to China and reaches a maximum size of 12 x 20 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 inches.
The semi-evergreen foliage glossy deep green. The narrow-ovate leaves up to 4 inches in length.
The white flowers are borne on clusters up to 3.5 inches across, during early summer.
They are followed by black fruits.
The very attractive exfoliating bark is olive-green.
Hardy north to zone 5.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Cornus poliophylla
A very rare tree with red twigs. While I still have little data on it; it is known to grow rapidly with a maximum rate of 5 feet and could thus have significant horticultural value.
Cornus Porlock ( Mrs. Satomi Dogwood )
An extremely vigorous Dogwood that forms a broadly spreading, medium sized tree to 35 feet or more; that is the hybrid of Cornus kousa chinensis and C. capitata. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 4 feet; maximum size - 50 x 60 feet.
The elliptical foliage is up to 3 inches in length and red-green in spring turning to deep green above, gray-green below in summer. The foliage turns to red in autumn and sometimes persists over the winter.
The early summer flowers are tiny in dense, rounded clusters; however they are surrounded by 4 large, taper pointed bracts that are creamy white turning to deep pink as the season progresses. The tips of the bracts typically color first.
The profuse red, hanging fruits resemble Strawberries in appearance and are edible.
The bark is gray with shallow orange fissures.
Hardy north to zone 5 tolerating -20 F
Cornus pumila
A dense, suckering, mound forming, slow growing Dogwood that reaches around 3 feet or very rarely as much as 8 x 7 feet.
The lush green foliage is up to 3 inches in length and turns to bronze yellow in the fall. Red new foliage gives this shrub Dogwood a Photinia effect all summer long.
The summer flowers are white and are borne in long stemmed clusters.
The stems are red in the winter.
Hardy from zone 2 to 8 and flood tolerant
Cornus racemosa ( Gray Dogwood )
A large suckering shrub native to eastern North America reaching up to 15 feet. On ideal sites it can sometimes become a small tree; some records include: 1st year - 18 inches; fastest growth rate - 5 feet; largest ever recorded - 40 x 25 feet with trunk diameter of 6 inches.
The foliage is medium green above, grayish below, and up to 4 inches in length.
The abundant white flowers are borne in loose red stemmed panicles in early summer, and are followed by white berries that contrast well with the reddish autumn foliage.
The stems are gray.
hardy zones 3 to 8 and is moderately drought tolerant.
* photos taken on Aug 3 2012 in London, Ontario
Cayahoga
a pyramidal small street tree
Cornus rugosa ( Roundleaf Dogwood )
Native to North America from North Dakota & Manitoba to Nova Scotia and south to Kentucky to Virginia.
It is typically a large shrub to 15 feet or very rarely a small tree. The largest on record is 40 x 16 feet.
The broadly oval, somewhat rounded leaves are up to 6 inches in length. They are deep green above and whitish below.
The summer flowers are tiny and white and are borne in clusters up to 3 inches across. They are followed by bright blue fruits.
The younger stems are purple tinted
Hardy zones 5 to 8
Cornus x rutgan ( Rutgar hybrid Dogwoods )
Exceptionally vigorous, disease and borer resistant hybrids between Cornus florida & C. kousa
Fast growing with fastest recorded rate of 4 feet.
Foliage is deep green and mildew resistant, and turn to red in the fall. The leaves are up to 5 inches in length.
They typically flower 15 days later than Cornus florida - Flowering Dogwood.
Red fruits follow the flowers.
Very easy to grow; the Rutgar Hybrids are very low maintenance and are NOT prone to anthracnose, borers or mildew.
Hardy zones 4 to 9
Aurora
Upright in habit and extremely vigorous.
The deep green leaves turn to red during autumn.
The flower bracts are large and white.
Celestial Shadow
The deep green leaves have a bold yellow border. Flowers are white.
Constellation
Extremely vigorous bearing white flower bracts
* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Ruth Ellen
* photos taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Starlight
A vigorous, upright hybrid between Cornus kousa & C. nuttallii; bearing huge white flowers, up to 5 inches across.
Stellar Pink
Vigorous growing with light pink flowers.
* photo taken on May 6 2011 in Bel Air, MD
* photo taken on Nov 8 2011 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 23 2012 in Harford Co., MD
* photo taken on Oct 17 2013 in Harford Co., MD
Venus
Averaging around 20 x 20 feet in 10 years; this "Dogwood on Steroids" has huge bracts with the profuse "flowers" reaching up to 8 inches across.
The deep green leaves are also very large, up to 7 x 3.5 inches! A hybrid between Cornus kousa and Cornus nuttallii; it is among the fastest growing and most disease resistant of all Dogwoods.
* photos taken on May 11 2011 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europes premier plant nursery
Cornus sanguinea ( European Dogwood )
A moderate growing, upright deciduous shrub native to northern Europe that can reach 10 feet or very rarely as much as 20 x 17 feet ( record height is 30 feet with trunk diameter of 9 inches ).
The lush green, oval foliage turns to scarlet in the fall, contrasting well with the blue-black fruits which follow the clustered, small white flowers from earlier in the season.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( tolerating down to -30 F ).
* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Arctic Sun
intense yellow winter stems. Dwarf, only reaching 4 x 4 feet in 10 years.
Plants grown for their colorful winter stems should be cut back to 4 inches in height during early spring.
Midwinter Fire
Glowing bright red winter stems. Often cut to the ground in early March since the new stems are typically the most intense in color. It resprouts easily and vigorously from the ground and may reach 6 feet by summers end. Unpruned, it can reach up to 10 x 10 feet in 10 years, eventually 15 feet or more.
Plants grown for their colorful winter stems should be cut back to 4 inches in height during early spring.
* photo taken on Mar 7 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
Winter Flame
Reaching up to 7 x 7 feet in 10 years, eventually 8 x 8 feet or broader; this Dogwood has intense yellow winter stems deepening to orange and red at the tips. Extremely attractive in winter.
Plants grown for their colorful winter stems should be cut back to 4 inches in height during early spring.
Cornus sericea ( Red Osier Dogwood )
Also called Cornus stolonifera. A vigorous, suckering shrub native to eastern North America. Trained as a tree it has been known to reach as large as 26 x 15 feet with a trunk diameter of 9 inches but it is generally found as a massive colony in the wild spreading by creeping underground stem. The Red Osier can reach up to 2 feet in its first years and 6 feet in the 3rd.
The oval foliage is medium green and turns to orange and red in the fall. The leaves reach up to 5.5 x 3 inches in size.
The flat clusters of tiny white, star shaped flowers in early summer are followed by bluish-white berries in the fall.
The Red Osier Dogwoods is resistant to deer, flood, heat, fire ( resprouts from roots ), ice, salt, and wind. Insect pests and disease problems are rare, though canker may sometimes follow drought or leafspot may occur during very wet summers. Excellent choice for use in hedgerows and for riverbank erosion control. It will grow on swampy sites. Hardy from zone 1 to 5 and grows well even in Alberta. The Red Osier Dogwood can be grown from seed sown during autumn or cuttings taken during the middle of summer.
* photos of unknown internet source
* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E., et al. 1996. North Dakota tree handbook
Arctic Fire
Compact with no suckers, reaching only 3 x 3 feet in 10 years and eventually 4 feet.
The stems are deep red in winter.
Cardinal
Reaches up to 11 x 15 feet in 10 years; eventually more. It is moderately leaf spot resistant.
* photo taken on Mar 7 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Flaviramea
Grown for its bright greenish yellow shoots that are especially ornamental in winter agaist a dark background.
The oval leaves are deep green and can be larger ( up to 8 x 4.7 inches on vigorous shoots ).
* photo taken on Mar 7 2013 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Hedgerow Gold
Foliage is lush green with bold golden-yellow margins.
The winter stems are deep red.
* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Isanti
Compact and dense in habit with scarlet-red stems, reaching up to 6 x 10 feet.
Nitida
green winter stenms
Cornus sessilis ( Blackfruit Dogwood )
A deciduous shrub native to western North America, that can reach a maximum size of 20 x 10 feet.
The flowers are small and yellow ( similar to Cornus mas ) and the glossy, purple-black berries contrasts well with the tapered foliage that is up to 4 inches in length.
The young shoots are vivid green.
Hardy zones 7 to 9
Cornus stricta ( Stiff Dogwood )
A large shrub to 15 feet, native to the southeastern U.S. Rarely on ideal sites it can become a tree and the largest on record is 25 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 1 foot. The leaves are up to 4 inches in length, the flowers are white, fruits blue and the twigs are red. Hardy north to zone 7.
Cornus walteri ( Walter Dogwood )
A broadly conical, moderate growing, medium sized tree native to Korea and China; that can reach up to 50 feet or sometimes more in height. Some records include: fastest growth rate - 4 feet; largest ever recorded - 70 x 41 feet with a trunk diameter of 2.3 feet.
The oval, non toothed but wavy margined, taper pointed foliage is somewhat glossy deep green in color and thinly hairy below. The leaves are up to 6 x 2.5 inches in size and turn red in fall.
The small, creamy white flowers are borne in flattened clusters up to 3 inches across in early summer. They are followed by rounded black berries up to 0.3 inches across.
The pale gray-brown bark is very rough in texture, resembling alligator hide.
Endangered in the wild; it is also very rare in cultivation and some of the very few known planted specimums in the U.S. include Arnold Arboretum in Boston, MA and Secrest Arbroretum. It should be planted much more being that it makes an great street and shade tree and is also tolerant of drought, storms and pollution.
It does have a preferance for acidic soil and is hardy north to zone 4
Cornus wilsonii ( Wilsons Dogwood )
Among the tallest of all Dogwoods; this species is close in appearance to Cornus walteri. It is native to eastern China and can reach up to 60 feet though record sizes of 133 feet have been reported in the wild. The oval, deciduous foliage is up to 5 x 2.5 inches in size. The small spring flowers are white and borne in clusters. The flowers are followed by small, black, clustered berries from September to November.
The bark is reddish in color. This rare tree is hardy north to zone 6
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