Mother Earth’s Garden

Dogwood

by Rebecca on May 3rd, 2007

Probably one of the most popular ornamental trees, Dogwood is one of the most beautiful trees in the Spring. It’s flowers usually bloom before the leave start to bud, and display in varying shades of white and pink. In the fall, the leaves turn red to maroon and the branches are decorated with red berries. When not in bloom, the overall shape of the tree leaves still make it a wonderful ornamental addition to any yard or landscape.

Zones: 5-9

Type: Deciduous

Light: Full sun to full shade

Size: 25ft tall, 15-30ft wide

Form: Upright and spreading

Growth rate: Slow to moderate

How to Grow

Flowering Dogwoods prefer full to part shade, but will do well in full shade if they have plenty of water. If you live in a drier area, then plant in shade, or water regularly. It can sometimes grow wider than it is tall, so make sure it has plenty of room to expand. How well and how long it lives depends greatly on fast draining soil, unpolluted air, and good air circulation. So make sure to plant where away from roads, with plenty of room to breath! Also make sure you pick a tree that was bred from your zone to ensure hardiness in the spring and good foliage.

They are susceptible to borers, insects that tunnel into the trunk, and Spot anthracnose, a deadly fungal disease that produces brown spots on leaves. Borers can be controlled by regular fertilizing and watering. The fungus can be held back with mancozeb in the Spring. Because of their ornamental nature, they do well lining walkways or adding a graceful accent to buildings.

Tid Bits

The most significant Dogwoods are the Stellar hybrids that have emerged in the last few years. They were developed by a geneticist named Dr. Elwin Orton in an effort to maintain the grace and beauty of the tree while increasing its resistance to disease and pests. These new varieties have shown high resistance to borers and a good resistance to the fatal spot anthracnose. Some of these varieties include: Cornus Aurora, Cornus Constellation, C. Stellar Pink, and C. Ruth Ellen.

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POSTED IN: Trees