The Flowering Dogwood ( Cornus florida ) is a deciduous tree native to the north eastern United States and Mexico. This species of Dogwood truly is a spectacularly beautiful species, if you are lucky enough to live an acceptable climate and are looking for a small white (occasionally pink) flowering tree; don’t rule this stunner out.
The flowers, or what looks like the 4 flower petals of Cornus florida are really the bracts, the actual tiny flowers are found in the centre of these coloured bracts in clusters of 10-20.
Growth
Cornus florida can grow up to 10 metres tall in warmer regions but in cooler climates is more commonly seen at 4-6 metres tall. Its leaves are ovate in shape and green and turn a deep almost blood red in Autumn before they fall. As mentioned above, the bracts that surround the flowers are the showy part of this tree and are stunning. The bracts are white and look distinctly like 4 petals, they appear ribbed and have an indentation in the apex, giving them a unique and gorgeous ornamental appearance. Bracts are 3.5 cm’s long and 2.5 cm’s wide, the actual flowers in the centre are tiny and green yellow. The red fruit is inedible but is attractive to wildlife.
The Flowering Dogwood often grows as an understory tree and prefers an afternoon shade position in warmer climates. Suitable for Cold – Sub-Tropical Climates.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Cornaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate, Sub-Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-25 to 32°C / -13 to 90°F
SOIL TYPE:
Moist, rich and well-draining.
LOCATION:
Full Sun – Part Shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 10 metres (32 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 12 metres (40 feet)
pH:
5.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Deciduous, Slow Growing.
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Pollinated by insects, bisexual flowers.
MATURITY:
2-4 years.
GERMINATION RATES:
92%
GERMINATION TIME:
Cold stratification for 12-16 weeks, germination from 3-4 weeks.
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Medium-Hard
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 9
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
FACTS ABOUT CORNUS FLORIDA (Flowering Dogwood)
The Flowering Dogwood is the state flower and tree of Virginia and the state tree of both Missouri and North Carolina.
The Cornus florida ‘rubra’ (pink to red Flowering Dogwood), although growing naturally in the wild, is a rare occurrence. When growing seeds harvested from either the C. florida or the C. florida rubra, the odds of the tree developing into a ‘rubra’ will be the basically the same; about 1 in 100.
