If you purchase an item through links on this page, we may earn a commission. Our editorial content is not influenced by commissions. Read full disclosure.
Dogwood trees come in a huge range of sizes, colors and shapes, with some featuring pale pink petals or bright orange flowers. Some have red bark that adds winter interest. You can grow them as large shrubs or small trees. There are even small shrubs that work as edging plants.
Their beautiful spring presentation is legendary and the edible fruits can be absolutely delicious.
Before we go over the details of growing dogwoods, let’s review some of the more common types of dogwoods available.
Contents
Dogwood varieties
There are more than 45 species of Horned, all of which are commonly called dogwoods. These flowering shrubs and trees are perfect for planting in your garden if you want to sprinkle some easy-care color throughout your outdoor space.
Some of the most common dogwoods for vegetable gardens are dogwoods, kousa (or Japanese), native flower types, and Pacific dogwoods.
Dogwood trees grow in USDA growing areas
Let’s take a look at some of the great options if you’re interested in growing dogwoods:
japanese dogwood
Kousa or Japanese dogwood (cornus kousa) offers an incredible spectacle. In early spring, leaf-like bracts emerge, covering the tree in pink or white color. Later, star-shaped flowers appear. In the fall, the foliage is a brilliant bright red.
The Japanese dogwood is native to parts of East Asia, including the forests of Korea and Japan. You can find people growing dogwood trees in the kusa species around the world.
These trees can grow up to 30 feet tall with a rounded growth habit that features alternating branches in layers. It grows best in full sun, although it will tolerate some afternoon shade. It is cold and drought resistant and less susceptible to disease than some North American natives.
‘Miss Satomi’ features spring-blooming dark pink flowers followed by purplish-red fruits. It can grow up to 15 feet tall.
‘Gold Star’ has variegated foliage with yellow spots.
‘Stellar Pink’ has pink, rather than white, bracts in spring.
carnelian cherry
cornus mas has long leaves and yellow flowers, which distinguishes it from some other species of the genus. It flowers extremely early in the spring, followed by red, edible, olive-sized fruits.
It offers four-season interest, with peeling bark in winter, colorful bracts and flowers in spring, lush foliage and fruit in summer, and reddish-purple leaves in fall.
This slow-growing tree reaches up to 15 feet tall at maturity.
‘Nana’ is a small cultivar that will only reach about three feet in height. ‘Alba’ has white fruits and ‘Aurea’ has golden leaves.
pacific dogwood
Pacific Dogwoods (Cornus nuttallii) are native to the entire North American Pacific coast. It is popular both as a cultivated garden plant and for its timber.
These trees are tall and can grow up to 65 feet tall, with brilliant fall foliage. It is both shade tolerant and able to tolerate moist, poorly drained soil.
Unfortunately, native populations and cultivated trees have declined due to the arrival of anthracnose caused by the invasive fungus Disc destroyer. If you grow dogwood trees, you should be aware of this disease.
‘Gold Spot’ has eye-catching yellow and green foliage with large white flowers. ‘North Star’ has unusually bright red leaves in the fall and larger flowers than the species.
common dogwood
Native to Asia and Europe, the common dogwood (cornus sanguinea) are shrubby plants that can grow up to 15 feet tall. They are distinctive for their bright red stems and branches, which is why they are also known as blood twig bushes.
As the wood matures, it turns green.
The ‘Midwinter Fire’ cultivar is short and ideal for small farms with limited space. It only grows six feet tall. The twigs are particularly bright red. In spring, the white flowers create a nice contrast with the red stems.
giant dogwood
Giant Dogwoods (Cornus Controversy) grow up to 50 feet tall and half as wide. It is native to Asia and features brilliant white flowers in early spring.
‘Variegata’, sometimes called the wedding cake tree, is another handsome cultivar, reaching 30 feet tall. In spring masses of white flowers appear and the leaves are green with a white margin. In the fall, the white parts of the plant will turn yellow.
The tree gets its name from the branches, which grow in symmetrical layers, like tiers on a wedding cake.
‘June Snow’ features stunning red and orange leaves in the fall.
Plant dogwood trees
Any dogwood can be planted in the fall or early spring, depending on your weather. It’s important to note that dogwood leaves are heat sensitive and can burn easily, so plant them in partial shade if you live in an area that gets hot in the summer.
You should also avoid planting your dogwood in summer when temperatures are high.
Most people who grow dogwood trees place them in a partially shaded area with protection during the hot part of the day. Dogwood can take a while to establish itself in the ground, so you need to be patient. Those flowers will appear soon enough.
You will need to increase the watering schedule if you are planting in the spring, as the weather gets warmer this time of year and the trees need extra water to stay happy. After a few years the plants should be established and you can reduce the watering schedule.
It is essential to have well-drained soil when planting and to encourage your tree to take root.
Dogwood Care Tips
As mentioned earlier, the best soil for growing dogwoods is well-drained. Dogwoods can grow in neutral to alkaline soils. Add well-rotted compost to the soil to increase water retention and soil drainage. Compost also gives the soil an extra supply of nutrients.
Watering plays a key role in the growth of dogwood trees. Once established after the first few years, you can limit watering to dry periods. You should always check that the soil is moist by testing with your finger.
If the first few inches are moist (but not wet), you know it’s damp enough. If the leaves are wilting, there is probably too much water. Once the first few centimeters are dry, it’s time to add water.
Add a thick layer of organic mulch around the tree to help it retain moisture.
Fertilize in spring and summer with a mild, balanced fertilizer. It’s worth testing your soil once a year to determine if your soil is lacking in anything and if you need to add additional nutrients.
Pruning techniques
Dogwoods can grow tall and wide, so prioritize pruning to keep them at a manageable size. Wait until late fall or late winter to prune. This is the best time, as it is when the plant is dormant.
If you don’t feel comfortable pruning the plant, you can hire a local tree pruning service. Dogwoods do not like over pruning.
First, remove any dead, diseased, crossed or deformed branches. Then target the smaller branches to create a pleasing shape.
Common pests and diseases
Pests and diseases are part of plant growth. Although you never need to fix them, be prepared for these issues when growing dogwood trees, so you know how to deal with them if they occur.
Anthracnose
The most common disease to watch out for with dogwood plants is dogwood anthracnose.
Dogwood anthracnose is a type of fungal disease that can attack your dogwood tree. The first signs of the disease are discolored leaves and smaller branches. You might ignore the problem to begin with, but if left untreated, this condition will spread throughout the plant.
To find out how to fight this devastating disease, consider consulting our guide.
Powdery mildew
Another common disease is powdery mildew, which appears as fungal spores resembling white powder on leaves and branches. Our guide to powdery mildew will help get you on the right track.
dogwood moth
Dogwood moth (Synanthedon scitula) is a moth whose larvae burrow into the layer of the cambium layer of the plant.
Dogwood borer pests can prevent nutrients from reaching your plant and reduce its water consumption. Eventually, dogwood borers can kill branches and destroy the health of the tree.
Remove infested branches and encourage natural predators like birds and parasitic wasps. Insecticides are generally not effective.
Climb
Scale insects are the other pests that can affect your dogwood plants. Even though these pests are small, they can impact the overall health of your dogwood tree.
A sticky substance called honeydew and sooty mold are common signs of scale insects. If you see these symptoms in your plant, check out our guide on how to fix the problem.
How to Use Dogwood Fruit and Leaves
Many dogwood species produce edible fruit in the summer.
If you want to make something indulgent but are tired of strawberries or raspberries, you should try harvesting your own dogwood berries.
The fruits of Japanese dogwood plants are known to help boost your immune system and help treat inflammatory bowel disease. Carnelian cherries are also tasty. All other species are technically edible, but they don’t always taste good.
There are several ways to eat the berries and leaves. Here are some ways to enjoy your harvest:
- Raw berries as a snack
- Grind fruit into jam or jelly
- The leaves can be brewed into a tea
- Make wine with berries
Dogwood frozen yogurt is extremely tasty. All you need to do this is:
- 1 cup dogwood berries
- 4 tsp sugar
- ½ cup of milk or yogurt
- lemon zest
- mint leaves for garnish
Once you have the berries, cook them with the sugar until combined and tender. Add the lemon zest. Freeze the yogurt for 1-2 hours. Remove from freezer and garnish with berries and a few chopped mint leaves.
Was this article helpful?
Yes No ×
We appreciate your helpful feedback!
Your response will be used to improve our content. The more feedback you give us, the better our pages will be.
Facebook pinterest