Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
A beloved native understory ornamental with showy spring bracts (the true flowers are tiny and central), red fall fruit, and burgundy autumn color. It needs cool, moist, acidic soil and light afternoon shade; in hot, dry, or wet sites it succumbs to dogwood anthracnose and powdery mildew. Borers attack drought- and sun-stressed trees.
Field reference
Family
Cornaceae
Growth rate
Slow
Mature size
15–30 ft tall, 15–30 ft spread
Hardiness zone
5–9
Soil preference
Moist, rich, well-drained, acidic soils; intolerant of drought and compaction
Sun
Part shade (understory); morning sun, afternoon shade
Pruning window
Late spring, just after bloom (avoid dormant cuts that bleed and invite borers)
Wood properties
Very hard, dense, heavy, shock-resistant wood (~0.64 SG) historically used for shuttles and mallets. Small understory tree; rigging concerns are minimal, but wood is surprisingly heavy.
Native range
Eastern United States, from Maine to Florida and west to Texas and Missouri
Green weight
53 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Anthracnosefungus · Moderate severity · peak Spring, during cool, wet, rainy weather at and just after leaf-outPowdery Mildewfungus · Low severity · peak Late spring through fall, worst in humid, shaded, crowded conditionsScale Insectspest · Moderate severity · peak Vulnerable mobile 'crawlers' emerge late spring–summer (species dependent)Armillaria Root Rotfungus · High severity · peak Decline visible in summer drought stress; honey mushrooms appear in fall
Common questions
Why is my dogwood getting purple-bordered leaf spots and twig dieback?
That is dogwood anthracnose, worst in cool, wet, shady, humid sites. Improve airflow and morning sun, remove infected wood, and on high-value trees use registered fungicides at bud break.
Why is my dogwood struggling in a sunny, dry spot?
Flowering dogwood is a moist-woodland understory tree. Full hot sun and dry soil stress it, invite borers and powdery mildew, and shorten its life; give it shade and consistent moisture.
Related species in Cornaceae
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