Flowering Dogwood

Growing & care

• Sun: part shade is ideal — woodland edge conditions mimic the native habitat. Full sun in cool climates works with consistent moisture; full sun in the hot South stresses the tree.
• Water: consistent moisture, especially during the first three years and in summer drought. Mulch the root zone heavily.
• Soil: rich, well-drained, slightly acidic. Tolerates clay if drainage is good.
• Hardiness: USDA zones 5–9. Performance declines in dry, hot zones at the southwestern edge of the range.
• Mature size: 15–30 feet tall and wide. Multiple trunks form naturally in shaded sites; pruning to a single leader is also possible.
• Pruning: late winter for shape; remove dead wood any time.

Propagation

Fresh seed from mature red fruit sown in fall and cold-stratified through winter germinates the following spring. Most landscape dogwoods are bud-grafted or budded onto seedling rootstock to preserve named cultivars like the pink-flowered 'Cherokee Brave' or disease-resistant 'Appalachian Spring'. Softwood cuttings root in midsummer with mist but are unreliable.

Common problems

Dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva) has decimated wild populations in the Appalachians and remains the most serious disease threat — resistant cultivars are essential in affected regions. Powdery mildew appears in crowded plantings or in deep shade. Borers attack stressed or injured trunks; avoid string-trimmer damage at the base. Flowering dogwood is non-toxic to dogs and cats per ASPCA listings, though the bright red fruit may mildly upset stomachs if eaten in quantity.