Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Height: 30 feet Spread: 35 feet Sunlight: Partial shade Hardiness Zone: 6a
 
Description: The Flowering Dogwood is possibly the ultimate small specimen tree, renowned for its large yet delicate white blooms in spring and its excellent wide-spreading form. This tree is extremely fussy, requiring rich, well-drained acidic soil and adequate precipitation. It performs best with some shelter.
 
Ornamental Features:
Flowers: Showy clusters of white flowers with white bracts held atop the branches in mid-spring.
Foliage: Forest green deciduous foliage that emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall.
Fruits: Produces red berries from early to late fall.
Bark: Warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.
 
Landscape Attributes:
Multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a stunning habit of growth, featuring almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches.
Average texture that blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
Low-maintenance tree; should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers.
Good choice for attracting birds to your yard.
Gardeners should be aware of potential issues with insects and disease.
 
Recommended Uses:
Accent
Shade
 
Planting & Growing:
Grows to about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 35 feet.
Low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, making it unsuitable for planting under power lines.
Grows at a slow rate and can live for approximately 30 years under ideal conditions.
Thrives in a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. Will also grow in partial shade.
Keep away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall.
Requires evenly moist, well-drained soil for optimal growth. Will die in standing water. May require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat.
Very fussy about soil conditions; must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success. Subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils.
Quite intolerant of urban pollution; inner-city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided. Will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location.
Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates.
This species is native to parts of North America.