Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a shrub that can grow 3m – 8m tall and 3m – 8m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).
This plant has several common names including: flowering dogwood, American box, blood twig dogwood, common white dogwood, eastern flowering dogwood, false box wood or North American green osier.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 20-50 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: flowering dogwood, American box, blood twig dogwood, common white dogwood, eastern flowering dogwood, false box wood, North American green osier
Scientific name: Cornus florida
Plant type: Shrubs, Trees
Habit: Bushy
Height: 3m – 8m
Spread: 3m – 8m
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Informal Garden
Planting type: Low Maintenance
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) – Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shrubs are fundamental elements in any garden.
They add color and interest throughout the seasons with their wide variety of flowers, foliage, fruits, trunks and stems.
Whatever the size or style of your garden, the permanent woody structure or the foliage of evergreen shrubs will give the space shape and dimension.
Other types of Cornus to consider:
See all Cornus
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in clay, loam or sand.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH acid or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Cornus florida likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.
Sunlight
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) – Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
