Cornus florida

Flowering dogwood is quite an unusual shrub or small tree which draws your attention all year round: in the spring it has very showy large petal-like coloured bracts, and its leaves turn to beautiful colours early in the autumn.

The species brings a profusion of pure white so-called flowers (4 flower petals) surrounded around a small spherical head packed with tiny flowers. In late summer they are followed by attractive, bright red, and glossy fruit. There was a report saying they are poisonous for humans but it was not proved. To be on the safe side we only suggest looking at them, not eating them. You can grow it as a large shrub or a small tree whose branches will always be spreading creating a tiered effect with age.

This shrub does not like stress of any kind. Find it a nice spot now so you do not have to transplant it later, it might suffer from diseases thereafter. It needs moist but well-drained, acid soil, rich in organic material. It is a slow grower. Fully hardy to -27°C and can withstand temporary drops to -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 15-02-2011.