Spring flowers in white or pink, foliage that turns fire-like in autumn, then bare stems glowing red, yellow or even white through winter: dogwood (Cornus) earns its keep in every season. Most species stay small enough for a modest garden, and the one condition is soil that never dries out, in sun that is not fierce.
| Name | Cornus |
|---|---|
| Family | Cornaceae |
| Type | Shrub |
| Height | 16 to 40 feet (5 to 12 meters) |
| Exposure | Sun, part sun |
| Soil | Ordinary, humus-rich |
| Foliage | Deciduous (evergreen for some species) |
| Flowering | mid-spring to early summer |
The dogwood family has a number of shrubs and even a few small trees, but none of them grow any taller than a few dozen feet. The tallest dogwood species, such as the Cornus florida and the Cornus kousa can reach 20 to 25 feet though (6-7 meters). Smaller species, on the other hand, won’t ever get any taller than 6 feet (2 m), like Cornus alba.
Dogwood, or cornus, is preferably planted in Autumn to enable roots to settle in before the Winter colds strike. This will ensure a nice vegetation in Spring. If purchased in a pot or in a container, you can also plant in spring taking great care to water regularly at the beginning and in case of heat waves. Whatever the species, your dogwood will love locations with a rather high exposure to sunlight.
Hardy down to -4°F (or -20°C), it’s resilient in most climate types. This makes it easy to care for.
Dogwood naturally takes on a very elegant bearing as it grows older. You should really only prune your tree if you need to reduce it in size.
Note that it helps to cut dead wood off every now and then.
Dogwood is a magnificent tree that presents spectacular blooming in Spring and at the very beginning of Summer.
It’s easy to care for, even though certain parasites can still turn invasive on it, like scale. The entire Cornus genus comprises 30 to 50 different tree and shrub species, some of which have long-lasting evergreen leaves and others deciduous leaves.
Dogwood, as it’s commonly called, takes on beautiful hues as the year progresses. In Fall, it’ll become one of the highlights of the garden. As a standalone, its leafage and bearing will stand out the most, but you can also include it in a free-growing hedge with evergreens to either side. Lastly, if you specifically desire pink blooms, select the Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ variety: it’s the only pink-blooming dogwood in the world! This species will bear magnificent pink flowers in Spring, and leaves take on rich, fire-like colors in Fall.
Note the special Cornus canadensis, shown here in the picture, which makes for an excellent ground cover shrub that blooms in Summer.
The Cornus genus runs from small trees down to creeping ground cover, so the choice comes down to how much room you have and which season you want the plant to perform in. Here are the species named in this article, side by side.
| Species | Height | Main attraction | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornus florida | 20 to 25 feet (6-7 m) | Spring blooming | Standalone specimen in a small space |
| Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ | 20 to 25 feet (6-7 m) | Pink spring flowers, fire-like autumn leaves | Where pink blooms are wanted |
| Cornus alba | 6 to 8 feet (2 to 3 m) | White-spotted leaves, red, yellow and white winter bark | Winter colour, cut back at the end of winter |
| Cornus canadensis | Ground-hugging | Summer blooming | Ground cover |
Whichever you choose, all of them want plenty of light and soil that never dries out completely.
Cornus alba, also called the white dogwood, is one of the most appealing species. What makes it interesting are its leaves that are dotted with white spots, and the bark of its stems and trunk: red, yellow and even white in Winter. The white blooming, though appreciated by the passing honeybee, isn’t its most striking asset. Winter is when it’s truly revealed: fallen leaves make way for the stunning bark to be admired! Growth is rapid: it’ll reach 6 to 8 feet (2 to 3 m) within a few years. In order to give your Cornus alba even more colorful stems, cut it back at the end of winter to trigger more growth and branching.
Mulch locks moisture in the ground where the dogwood needs it. It’ll help the young tree cope with water needs on hot Summer days, when it really needs it! It’s especially useful during the first three year.
