A red twig dogwood shrub provides beautiful winter color, but Cornus sericea is also a fast grower that can quickly get out of control. Read on to learn how to prune red twig dogwood bushes that have outgrown their space. 

Pruning An Overgrown Red Twig Dogwood Shrub

Rejuvenation pruning is a way of cutting back neglected and overgrown shrubs. One plant that responds well to this type of pruning is the red twig dogwood shrub. It’s easy to tell when these bushes have been ignored because their radiant red stems turn woody and gray. Only young, new growth is that vibrant shade that brightens up the winter landscape. 

Timing is very important for proper pruning. You should cut summer blooming shrubs, like the red twig dogwood shrub, in late winter or early spring before buds open. 

An easy way to remember when to prune red twig dogwood bushes is sometime after the Super Bowl but before St. Patrick’s Day. Of course, bloom times vary depending on location, so check your growing zone before making any cuts.

Other bushes that respond well to rejuvenation pruning are spirea, lilac, privet, viburnum, weigela, and forsythia. But spring flowering shrubs like weigela and forsythia bloom on old wood, so wait until flowers have faded to make cuts on spring bloomers. 

Dogwood Rejuvenation Pruning

There are two ways to prune for rejuvenation. The first method is a three year process, but allows your dogwood to maintain its height and some blooms. Each year, cut back one third of the old, woody branches. Trim any branches that are growing down, towards the center, or crossing other limbs. 

Always make sure to use clean, sharp tools. Dirty tools can spread disease between plants and dull loppers make pruning red twig dogwood bushes with thick, woody stems difficult. 

The second method is not for the faint of heart. If your red twig dogwood shrub is totally out of control, it’s time to prune branches to the ground. For an extensive rejuvenation pruning job, cut branches as close to the ground as you can. Don’t be afraid – your shrub will grow back happier and healthier! 

New growth will appear during the growing season and by next winter, your red twig dogwood will have bright red stems. 

Red twig dogwood is one of the more ornamental shrubs in the garden in winter. That’s not because of any winter-blooming flowers that decorate the bare winter branches. Rather, the “pop” of red twig dogwood is found in the color of the shrub’s branches, a stand-out red when everything else is brown.

Pruning a red twig dogwood can help keep those branches red. If you are wondering how to prune red twig dogwood trees, just keep reading!

Keeping Red Twig Dogwood Small

Red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a wonderful shrub. It grows fast and provides interest in the garden all year. The sharp-tipped leaves are deep green in summer but turn purple red in autumn. Small white flowers appear in early summer and the smooth, deep red branches make the shrub eye-catching in a winter landscape.

While red twig dogwoods rarely grow above 8 feet (2.4 m.) tall, they do tend to get just as wide as they are high. Keeping red twig dogwood small requires occasional pruning. Taking off older branches and branch tips allows new young wood to grow in. It grows in bright red, replacing older brownish wood.

When Can I Cut Back Red Twig Dogwood?

What’s the best timing for pruning a red twig dogwood? Generally, the optimal time to prune a deciduous shrub is determined by when it blooms. That’s to make sure you don’t cut off all of next year’s buds. 

But bushes that are grown for their bright bark do not have these concerns. It’s best to prune them in late winter or early spring. They are still dormant at the time but warmer weather and new growth is just around the corner.

Rejuvenation Pruning Red Twig Dogwood

Red twig dogwood grows rapidly, and it’s hard to get away without occasional pruning. In fact, many gardeners cut the shrubs back to the ground every three years or so to keep the bushes vibrant and the stems bright red. This is called rejuvenation pruning. It has the advantage of eliminating all the old branches that have lost their bright red color. 

An alternative way of rejuvenation pruning red twig dogwood is to prune out the largest branches every year or two, no more than a third of the stems. Cut them off at ground level. Taking out the big branches will give more room to younger, more vigorous branches. This approach has the advantage of leaving the shrub the same height year after year. 

After summer’s vivid blossoms and bright foliage, winter’s landscape can feel a bit somber. There are some varieties of trees and shrubs that can change all that though. One great pick is colorful dogwoods. These trees and shrubs light up your backyard in winter with their vibrant stem color. Read on for our take on standout winter dogwood varieties. 

Dogwoods for Winter

It is hard to find more versatile ornamental shrubs and trees than those in the dogwood family. Most flowering dogwoods put on the petal-show in spring, offer bright foliage in summer, and put on a fiery fall show. There are many dogwoods with winter interest as well.

Don’t expect flowers or even foliage from winter dogwood varieties. Instead, dogwoods are attractive in winter because the lack of foliage reveals their attractive trunks and stems. For the best contrast, admire these dogwoods in snow. 

Dogwoods in Snow

If you’ve ever seen pictures of dogwoods in snow, you know what an impact these trees can have in a backyard. The top dogwoods with winter interest have twigs or bark in vibrant shades of red, maroon, or yellow and are real standouts in a bare winter landscape.

One to try is Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’). It is a remarkable ornamental, with green shoots all spring and summer long that turn red or yellow in autumn. The color continues to deepen through winter. For red winter stems, try the cultivar 'Argenteo-marginata' or ‘Ivory Halo.’ For yellow stems, you’ll like 'Bud's Yellow.' It also offers bright fall foliage color. 

Colorful Dogwoods

Some ornamental dogwoods are shrubs, not trees, and they top out about 8 feet (2 m.) tall and wide. They make great hedges that are surprisingly easy to maintain. The best cultivars have stems that are stand-out red or yellow after the leaves fall.

There are more than a few ornamental dogwoods for winter for you to choose from. One popular choice is blood twig dogwood (Cornus Sanguinea ‘Cato’), a dwarf cultivar with yellow stems and crimson tips during winter. 

Another is American dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Cardinal’), a dogwood for winter with year-round interest. Summer’s green foliage turns red in fall, providing an attractive contrast with the white berries. When the leaves fall in winter, the twigs are various shades of red through winter.

Flowering dogwood trees (Cornus florida) are admired for their big, bold blossoms comprised of petal-like bracts that appear on the bare branches in spring. Dogwoods, though small for trees, are sometimes too large for a landscape. Is there a dogwood shrub?

Shrub-like dogwoods do exist and work well in smaller gardens. In fact, there are many types of dogwood shrubs, each with its own unique characteristics. For more information, read on.

Is There a Dogwood Shrub?

The genus Cornus includes many different dogwood shrub varieties, including some that could be called subshrubs. They grow fast and provide year-round garden interest with spring flowers, summer berries, and exceptional fall color.

However, shrubby dogwoods do not grow the showy bracts that the taller dogwood trees do. Their flowers also appear after the foliage has fully grown. So do not expect them to be the same showstoppers that dogwood trees are.

In fact, many dogwood shrub varieties are grown for their winter interest. The colorful red-hued stems shine in an empty winter backyard. With many different types of dogwood shrubs and dozens of cultivars, you are sure to find one that works in your yard.

Popular Dogwood Shrub Varieties

Most shrub-like dogwoods are in the Cornus genus and called dogwood, like Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba). This variety of dogwood grows to 10 feet (3 m.) tall and offers small yellow flowers in spring. However, most gardeners choose this shrub-like dogwood for its red-hued stems in winter. 

You can also get good winter color from the bright red twigs of the redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea), also commonly known as red-twig dogwood. When the snow falls the red branches look spectacular in contrast. Redosier also grows to 10 feet (3 m.) tall. For extra stem color, choose cultivar 'Cardinal' (cherry red stems) or 'Flaviramea' (yellow stems).

Other dogwood shrub varieties may appeal to those with wet or marshy soil. For example, silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) is a shrub that is native to the U.S., growing along streambanks and in wet prairies. It also grows to 10 feet tall (3 m.) with a rounded canopy and is an excellent wet-site selection.

Dogwood Shrub Care

Dogwood shrub care is not difficult. Like dogwood trees, shrubs do well in almost any exposure, from full sun to significant shade. Grow dogwood shrubs in full sun or part shade and moist soil. As noted above, some types of dogwood shrubs thrive in soil that is periodically or consistently moist. Be sure to inspect the label when you are selecting one to make certain it will match your needs.

Transplant your dogwood shrubs in late spring or early summer. The plants require irrigation immediately after planting and regularly for the first growing season. It’s helpful to layer mulch over the root zone to hold the moisture in the soil.

Dogwoods are not among the shrubs that need frequent pruning, but if you are planting them for winter interest, you’ll want to take out the oldest canes regularly. New growth is what bears the bright coloration. Prune out about a third of the old canes in early spring.

The Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba) is an extremely hardy shrub known for its colorful winter bark. It is rarely planted as a solo specimen but is used as a border, mass, screen, or hedge plant in landscapes. If you are interested in growing Tatarian dogwoods, read on. We’ll give you information about the Tatarian dogwood bush and tips for Tatarian dogwood care.

Tatarian Dogwood Shrub Info

The Tatarian dogwood bush has a rounded canopy. It produces multiple upright stems that never grow above 8 feet (2.5 meters) tall. The plant offers something of interest for every season.

In early spring, the dogwood leaves emerge a soft, yellow-green. In late spring, the shrubs are covered with tiny, creamy, yellow flowers arranged in flat-topped clusters. These are followed by berries in summer that provides food for wild birds. In fall, the leaves blaze crimson and as the weather gets colder, the bare Tatarian dogwood bush stems turn blood red.

Growing Tatarian Dogwoods

Tatarian dogwood bushes are cool climate plants that grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. You can plant them in full sun or partial shade, but they won’t grow in full shade. The shrubs are easy to find in commerce in either container or ball and burlap form.

Tatarian dogwood bushes prefer evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun, but they are quite adaptable and very vigorous. You can find them growing happily in wet soils, dry soils, poor soils, and even compacted soils.

Once your dogwood is established, you still need to take care of the shrubs. Maintaining the lovely winter color takes a bit of effort.

New stems provide the best color in winter. As stems mature, the red shade doesn’t appear so vivid. Many people growing Tatarian dogwood shrubs thin the stems, cutting some of the older stems back to just above ground level every year.

This pruning results in new growth with more intense winter coloration and keeps the shrub compact and upright. It also keeps the growth under control since Tatarian dogwood shrubs expand by suckering and can become invasive.

Dwarf cornel plants (Cornus suecica) are small, spreading dogwood shrubs that are truly ornamental. Despite their small size, dwarf cornel shrubs can make your garden lovely all summer long with their flowers and berries. For more information about dwarf cornel dogwood, read on.

Ornamental Dwarf Cornel Plants

Dwarf cornel dogwoods, often called bunchberry but a different species than the bunchberry flowering vine, are a decorative addition to your garden or backyard. These short shrubs spread quickly via runners that grow from the horizontal rootstock. The shrubs grow into a thick groundcover 4 to 10 inches (10-25.5 cm.) tall. Dwarf cornel dogwood is extremely pretty during the summer, since it bursts into flower in June or July. The flowers are black, which is unique in and of itself. Each blossom sits on a base of four white bracts that are commonly mistaken for flower petals. In time, the plants produce red, juicy berries. The berries grow in long clusters of shiny fruit on the ends of the stems. The berries won’t kill you, but they aren’t delicious either, so most gardeners leave them to the birds. In the autumn, as the growing season draws to a close, dwarf cornel foliage turns a beautiful, purplish-brown. The colors are vivid and intense.

How to Grow Dwarf Cornel Plants

If you want to start growing dwarf cornel but you live in a chilly climate, you’re in luck. These plans are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 7. That means that those in really cold regions can think about growing dwarf cornel too. Dwarf cornel is native to the arctic regions of Europe, America, and Asia, although the range extended south in Europe into Britain and Germany. Its native habitat is often by water, on lake shores, river banks, swamps, and bog edges. Plant these perennials in a full sun area, although they can also grow well in light shade. Dwarf cornel plants grow best in sandy or loamy soils. They prefer slightly acidic soil. Dwarf cornel care includes regular irrigation, as the shrubs do best in constantly moist soil.

Flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida) are easy-going ornamentals if sited and planted properly. With their showy spring blossoms, these native plants are such a spring delight that nobody will blame you if you want a few more shrubs. Growing a dogwood tree from seed means propagation like Mother Nature does it. Read on for dogwood seed propagation information and tips for how to plant dogwood seeds.

Dogwood Seed Propagation

Propagating dogwoods from seed couldn’t be easier. That’s why dogwoods grow so readily in the wild. The seeds fall to the ground and go about dogwood seed germination on their own. Your first step toward dogwood seed propagation is to collect seeds from native trees. In the south, collect seeds in early autumn, but make it November in the northernmost regions of the U.S. To start growing a dogwood tree from seed, you’ll need to locate the seeds. Look for one seed inside each fleshy drupe. The seed is ready when the outer flesh of the drupe turns red. Don’t wait too long because the birds are after those drupes too.

How to Plant Dogwood Seeds

When you are starting dogwood seed propagation, you’ll need to soak the seeds in water for a couple of days. All non-viable seeds will float to the top of the water and should be removed. Soaking makes it a snap to remove the external pulp, expediting dogwood seed germination. You can rub the pulp off by hand or, if necessary, by using a fine wire screen. As soon as the soaking and pulp removal is done, it is time to plant. Prepare a seedbed with well-draining soil, or a flat with well-draining medium. For best dogwood seed germination, plant each seed about one-half inch (1 cm.) deep and 1 inch (2.5 cm.) apart in rows 6 inches (15 cm.) apart. Cover up the planted soil with light compost like pine straw to hold in moisture. Propagating dogwoods from seed isn’t an overnight event. It takes time before you witness dogwood seed germination, and you’ll usually see the new seedlings appear in spring following an autumn sowing.

If you love pagoda dogwood, you’ll love pagoda Golden Shadows dogwood, a bright, graceful cultivar with characteristic horizontal branching. It lights up the shady corners of your garden with its glowing variegated yellow leaves and frothy summer blossoms. Read on for more pagoda dogwood information, including tips on how to grow a Golden Shadows dogwood.

Pagoda Dogwood Information

Cornus alternifolia trees have a graceful, horizontal branching habit that resulted in the common name “pagoda dogwood.” The pagoda cultivar Golden Shadows (Cornus alternifolia 'Golden Shadows') is a light and lively little dogwood. Like the species tree, Golden Shadows is deciduous, losing its leaves in winter. It is also small, rarely growing over 12 feet (4 m.) tall. The branches spread wide, making the mature tree almost as wide as it is tall. Growing Golden Shadows dogwood in your garden adds a splash of lemon-lime color. The cultivar’s heart-shaped leaves are large and brilliantly colored with wide, canary yellow margins blending dramatically into solid green centers. It also produces clusters of lacy white blossoms in spring. In time, these turn into blue-black berries. Wild birds appreciate these berries.

Growing Golden Shadows Dogwood

If you are wondering how to grow a Golden Shadows dogwood, start with checking your climate. Pagoda Golden Shadows dogwood thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8. It doesn’t do well in hot regions. As with most dogwood varieties, which are understory trees in the wild, Golden Shadows grows best in a location with partial shade. Planting the tree in a section of your backyard with filtered shade will minimize Golden Shadows dogwood care. Direct sun can burn the cultivar’s beautiful leaves. In terms of soil, you’ll do best growing Golden Shadows dogwood in moist, well-draining soil. You want the root area of the tree to stay cool at all times of the day. The tree prefers acidic soil. If you plant them appropriately, growing Golden Shadows dogwood is a breeze. Very little maintenance is required. Pruning is not required, but if you want to keep this small tree even smaller, go ahead and trim in winter.

Evergreen dogwoods are beautiful, tall trees grown for their fragrant flowers and remarkable fruit. Keep reading to learn more Cornus capitata information, including tips on evergreen dogwood care and how to grow an evergreen dogwood tree.

Cornus Capitata Information

Evergreen dogwood trees (Cornus capitata) are hardy down to USDA zone 8. They are native to east and southeast Asia but can be grown in warm climates all over the world. They can grow as high as 50 feet (15 m.) in height, though they tend to top out between 20 and 40 feet (6-12 m.). In the summer, they produce very fragrant flowers, which are very small and surrounded by four to six bracts that are often mistaken for petals. The bracts come in shades of white, yellow, and pink. These flowers give way to very distinctive fruits that are actually dozens of tiny fruits fused together. These fruits are pink to red, about an inch in diameter (2.5 cm.), and round but bumpy. They are edible and sweet, but they can cause a litter problem if the tree is planted near a walkway. The leaves are dark and evergreen, though they are sometimes known to turn red to purple and partially drop in autumn.

How to Grow an Evergreen Dogwood Tree

Like many dogwood varieties, evergreen dogwood trees can thrive in both sun and shade. They do best in moist, clay or loam soil. They prefer acidity, but they can tolerate light alkalinity. They need a lot of water. The trees are monoecious, which means they can self-pollinate. It’s important to bear in mind, however, that they will not flower for eight to ten years if they are grown from seed. It’s best to start the trees from cuttings if you want to see flowers or fruit within the decade.

Dogwoods are beautiful trees with striking spring flowers. They are impressive trees to have around, but not every gardener has the space or the means to take care of a large tree. Other gardeners may not live in a zone warm enough to overwinter a dogwood outside. With some skill and attention, though, you can keep a dogwood tree in a container. Keep reading to learn more about caring for potted dogwood trees.

Can I Grow Dogwood in a Container?

Can I grow dogwood in a container? Technically, yes, it’s possible, but there are certain requirements to be met, and it’s not for the casual gardener. Dogwood trees have very dense, fast-growing root systems that are less than ideal for container growing. They also need extremely well-draining soil, but at the same time, the plants need lots of water, particularly in the first few years of life. Containers dry out quickly, so you’ll probably have to mulch heavily and water it every day or so.

How to Grow Dogwoods in a Container

When growing dogwood trees in pots, it’s important to give the roots plenty of room. This means you should opt for as big of a container as you can manage. Even so, you’ll want to remove the tree from its container to prune the roots back on occasion to keep it from becoming root bound. Again, container grown dogwoods will require plenty of moisture, so you’ll have to water the tree frequently. You can also add a bit of mulch to the top of the soil, which should help it retain some of that moisture. Caring for potted dogwood trees in the winter is also tricky. The plants need cold temperatures in order to go dormant during the winter. If you want to bring it inside, it’s best to put it somewhere protected but unheated, like a shed or a garage.

If you’ve ever seen an elaborate Japanese pagoda, you know how the structure’s roof spreads out in symmetrical layers. The branches of pagoda dogwood are dense and layered too, and pagoda dogwood information says the trees get their common names from this branch structure. Despite its common name, the pagoda dogwood is actually a North American native shrub found in New Brunswick, the eastern parts of the United States, and west to Minnesota. For more pagoda dogwood information, including tips for pagoda dogwood care, read on.

Pagoda Dogwood Information

Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) is a large shrub or small tree for a garden or backyard. The pagoda dogwood is hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. It is also an attractive plant. When you are growing pagoda dogwood trees, you’ll see that the branches are tiered and horizontal, turning up slightly at the tips. Pagoda dogwood information suggests that the blossoms are also a nice addition to a landscape. Although they are small, the creamy flowers are very fragrant and bloom in 2 to 3 inch (5-8 cm.) groupings in late spring. These give way to berry-like drupes, the color of blueberries that appear on crimson stalks. The fruits mature in late summer. The long, oval leaves turn purple in autumn. This dogwood is of great benefit to wildlife. The flowers attract butterflies and the dense foliage provides excellent nesting conditions for birds, while the drupes make meals for them too.

Pagoda Dogwood Growing Conditions

When you are growing pagodas, you’ll be particularly interested in tips about pagoda dogwood growing conditions. In fact, the trees have quite specific requirements. Ideal pagoda dogwood growing conditions include a sunny planting site that gets some shade during the heat of the afternoon. You’ll want to find a spot with moist, fertile soil. The soil should also be acidic and well-drained. If you find a great planting location, growing pagoda dogwood trees requires less effort. That doesn’t mean that no pagoda dogwood care is required, however. Pagoda dogwood information suggests that these plants require regular irrigation. This is especially important in areas that do not get precipitation in the summer. It also helps your pagoda dogwood if you mulch the root area regularly. This locks in the moisture and also stabilizes the soil temperature.

Crown canker is a fungal disease that attacks flowering dogwood trees. The disease, also known as collar rot, is caused by the pathogen Phytophthora cactorum. It can kill the trees it attacks or can leave them vulnerable to lethal attack by other pathogens. For more information on crown canker on dogwood trees, read on.

Dogwood Tree Diseases

Dogwood trees suffer from a variety of diseases and conditions, most of which result in only cosmetic damage. Some are caused by improper care, such as water stress, resulting from inadequate irrigation during dry periods. Other avoidable diseases include leafspot and sun scorch, which occur when this understory tree is planted in full sun.

However, two dogwood tree diseases are potentially lethal to the trees. Both are canker diseases. One, dogwood anthracnose canker, kills leaves, twigs and branches, starting in the lowest branches. It often kills the tree within three to five years.

The other deadly canker is known as crown canker of dogwood. Crown canker on dogwood trees is the most serious of the dogwood tree diseases in the eastern United States. It is caused by a canker that, over several years, girdles the tree and kills it.

What are the first visible symptoms of crown canker on dogwood trees? You may not see the canker immediately on an infected tree. Look for undersized leaves of a lighter color than normal on a tree that appears stressed. Over time, twigs and branches die on one side of the tree as the disease spreads.

Dogwood Crown Canker Treatment

If you take steps to prevent dogwood tree bark problems, especially wounds, you are one step ahead of the game. Prevention of wounds is easier than dogwood crown canker treatment.

As with many other canker diseases, crown canker of dogwood often enters through wounds on the base of the tree. Any dogwood tree bark problems that cause a break in the bark can allow in the disease.

The most important step in dogwood crown canker treatment is prevention. Take care not to wound the tree with garden tools when you are transplanting it, or lawn mowers or weed whackers after it is planted. Insects or animals can also wound the tree bark and allow the disease to enter.

Once the fungus has infected a large section of the dogwood’s base, you can do nothing to save the tree. However, if only a small area is diseased, you can try to stop its spread by cutting out the canker, removing all discolored bark and sapwood and some 2 inches (5 cm.) of healthy bark. Use a sharp knife to perform this excision.

At maturity, it looks a bit like an elongated, bright red cherry and, in fact, its name references cherries, but it isn’t related to them at all. No, this isn’t a riddle. I’m talking about growing cornelian cherries. You may not be familiar with cornelian cherry cultivation and wonder what the heck is a cornelian cherry plant? Keep reading to find out how to grow cornelian cherry trees, uses for cornelian cherries, and other interesting facts about the plant.

What is a Cornelian Cherry Plant?

Cornelian cherries (Cornus mas) are actually members of the dogwood family and native to areas of eastern Europe and western Asia (they even survive in Siberia!). They are shrub-like trees that can grow up to 15 to 25 feet (4.5-8 m.) in height if left unpruned. The plant can live and be fruitful for up to 100 years. They bloom early in the season, even prior to forsythia, and bloom for an extended period of time, carpeting the tree in a yellow haze of tiny blossoms. The bark of the tree is flaky, grayish brown to brown. Bright green glossy leaves turn purplish red in the fall.

Are Cornelian Cherries Edible?

Yes, cornelian cherries are very edible. Although the plant is known primarily as an ornamental in the United States, ancient Greeks have been growing cornelian cherries for 7,000 years! The ensuing fruit is initially very tart and looks much like olives. In fact, the ancient Greeks pickled the fruit much like olives. There is actually a myriad of other uses for cornelian cherries such as for syrups, jellies, jams, pies, and other baked goods. Russians even make it into a cornelian cherry wine or add it to vodka.

How to Grow Cornelian Cherry Trees

While historically significant, cornelian cherries have not been mass produced due to the elongated pit inside the fruit that is difficult to remove, as it is firmly entrenched in the pulp. More often, the trees are seen as ornamental specimens, popular and planted around the 1920s. Cornelian cherry cultivation is suited to USDA zones 4 through 8. The trees do best in full sun to part shade and while they do well in a variety of soils, they prefer fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5-7.5. This adaptable plant is winter hardy to -25 to -30 degrees F. (-31 to -34 C.). The tree can be pruned and trained into a single stemmed tree if desired and is primarily insect and disease resistant with the exception of dogwood anthracnose. Cultivars include:

• ‘Aero elegantissima,’ with its variegated, creamy white leaves
• ‘Flava,’ with sweet, large, yellow fruit
• ‘Golden Glory,’ which bears large flowers and large fruit on its upright branching habit

Also known as swamp dogwood, silky dogwood is a mid-size shrub that grows wild along streams, ponds, and other wetlands across much of the eastern half of the United States. In the home landscape, silky dogwood bushes work well in moist, naturalized areas and do a good job at stabilizing the soil in erosion-prone sites. Mature height generally ranges from 6 to 12 feet (2-4 m.). Read on for additional silky dogwood information.

Silky Dog Information

Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) is named for the silky gray hairs that cover the undersides of leaves and twigs, which turn purplish in spring and reddish brown in autumn. It is from these silky hairs that make silky dogwood identification fairly easy. Clusters of tiny creamy white flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. The plant is often found in shade or semi-shade but tolerates moderate sunlight. Silky dogwood bushes may not be the best choice if your goal is a tidy, manicured garden, but the shrub’s rather unkempt, rounded appearance fits well into a natural setting. Birds love the pale blue fruit that shows up in late summer.

Growing Silky Dogwood Shrubs

A relative of dogwood trees, silky dogwood bushes are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. The shrubs are adaptable plants that tolerate either dry or wet sites, but prefer moist, well-drained soil. Although silky dogwood withstands alkaline soil, the plant is better suited to slightly acidic conditions.

Caring for Silky Dogwoods

Water young shrubs regularly until the roots are well established. Once the shrubs are settled in, caring for silky dogwoods requires little effort. For example, you can water the shrub – or not. A 2 to 3 inch (5-8 cm.) layer of mulch will keep the soil moist and cool. No fertilizer is required. Remove suckers if you want to limit growth or allow the shrubs to grow unrestrained if you want to form a naturalized screen or thicket. Prune silky dogwood as needed into any size or shape you like, and be sure to remove dead or damaged growth.

Dogwood trees are beautiful, iconic landscaping trees that come from the forest understory. Although they’re great for adding lots of curb appeal, they’ve got a few serious problems that can spoil the idyllic feel of your yard. It’s never good news when a tree gets sick, especially when it’s your stately dogwood tree. Dogwood tree blight, for example, is a fungal infection of dogwood trees that can turn these valuable visual assets into serious detriments. Read on to find out about dogwood tree blight and what you can do to help your plant through this rough time.

Dogwood Anthracnose Information

Dogwood blight, also known as dogwood anthracnose for the fungal pathogen that causes the disease, is a fairly new problem. It is believed to have started in the northeastern United States about 25 years ago but has been spreading southward ever since. The early symptoms are similar to leaf spot diseases, with purple-bordered soft wet spots appearing on leaves, especially around the margins. Once the disease spreads to leaf petioles and twigs, however, it becomes more obvious. Leaves attached to these infected areas will shrivel and turn black. In very advanced diseases, lower branches may die, cankers may form on the limbs, and trunk sprouts will increase in number.

Controlling Dogwood Blight

Dogwood blight control is difficult, but if you catch it early, you may be able to save the tree by cutting out all diseased tissues. That means all leaves, all twigs, and all branches showing signs of infection must be removed and destroyed promptly. Small trees may be saved with a fungicide spray applied every 10 to 14 days as long as cool, moist weather persists. Prevention of dogwood blight is the best tool you’ve got to keep your landscaping trees healthy. Keeping your dogwood properly watered and fertilized is the first line of defense, 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.) of mulch spread over the root zone will help maintain soil moisture. Removing spent leaves, pruning low branches, opening up a dense canopy, and trimming water sprouts in the fall will create intolerable conditions for the fungus. If you’ve lost a tree to dogwood blight, consider replacing it with Oriental dogwood (Cornus kousa). It has a high tolerance to anthracnose. White dogwoods seem to be less susceptible to the infection than their pink counterparts. There are also new cultivars of the Appalachian dogwood series that are bred to be anthracnose resistant. Whatever you do, don’t transplant a wild dogwood into the landscape – as this is how many infections started.

Autumn foliage aside, yellow leaves on a tree generally doesn’t signal health and vitality. The flowering dogwood tree (Cornus florida) is no exception. If you see your dogwood tree leaves turning yellow during the growing season, the tree is likely suffering from a pest, disease, or deficiency. Read on to find out why your dogwood has yellow leaves.

Avoiding Sick Dogwood Trees

When delicate blossoms open on your dogwood tree boughs, you know that spring is on the way. This native tree grows wild throughout the eastern states, and it is also a popular ornamental. The small size works well in home gardens and backyards, but improper culture can cause sick dogwood trees. The best defense against pests or diseases attacking your dogwood is to provide appropriate care for your tree. This is easier when you understand that dogwoods are understory trees in the wild, growing in shade on organically rich soil. You need to provide a similar environment.

Dogwood Tree with Yellow Leaves – Borer Attacks

If your tree canopy dies back or the leaves turn fall colors prematurely, it may indicate a dogwood borer attack. This insect is the most common pest of the cultivated dogwood. Adult borers are day-flying moths that lay their eggs wounds or fissures in the tree bark. As the insect larva emerge, they bore into the tree, leaving holes and sawdust-like frass as evidence of their presence. Yellow leaves on dogwood trees can be an early sign of an infection. To prevent a borer attack, plant your dogwood in shade, not direct sun, and provide adequate irrigation to avoid water stress. Don’t weed whack close to the base of the tree or otherwise wound its bark, since wounds provide an entryway for the borers.

Yellow Leaves on Dogwood Trees – Chlorosis

Another possible cause of yellow leaves on dogwood trees is chlorosis. Dogwood trees are susceptible to iron chlorosis, which means that the trees are not up taking sufficient iron to manufacture chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves. You should suspect chlorosis if the yellow first shows up in the area between the leaf veins, leaving the veins green. In more severe cases, the entire leaves turn pale yellow. To prevent chlorosis in your dogwood tree, check the soil acidity before planting. Dogwoods cannot absorb the iron in the soil if it is too alkaline, that is, if the pH is above 7.5. While you are doing soil testing, check for magnesium, manganese, and boron levels as well, since deficiencies in these minerals can also cause chlorosis. When you see your dogwood tree leaves turning yellow because of chlorosis, make sure you are watering appropriately. Overwatering the tree (or poor drainage) can also cause chlorosis. Likewise, root damage, girdling roots, and trunk wounds all make it more difficult for the tree to transport nutrients.

Dogwood Has Yellow Leaves – Other Issues

If your dogwood has yellow leaves, the tree might also suffer from some other disease. For example, leaves with powdery mildew can turn yellow. Identify the disease by the white powder on foliage. Similarly, scale infection can also cause yellow leaves on dogwood trees. Scales are legless insects that look like small brown bumps on foliage or stems. Kill adults and eggs by spraying horticultural oil in spring.

There are any number of diseases and pests that can stress your dogwood and cause dogwood leaf drop. It is normal to see leaves falling in autumn but you should not see a dogwood tree dropping leaves in summer. When leaves are falling off dogwood in summer, it could mean a serious illness, improper siting or cultivation problems. Let's examine proper cultivation and conditions for the trees and see what can be done about treating a diseased dogwood.

Why Leaves are Falling Off Dogwood?

Dogwoods are elegant, beautiful ornamental trees with several seasonal displays. Their oval to heart-shaped leaves deepen to crimson and orange in fall. The green leaves add charm and movement during the growing season and set a perfect backdrop for the bright flowerlike bracts. Dogwood leaf drop is not only an unsightly problem but it can spell doom for a plant due to reduced vigor. It is essential to determine the cause and preserve the energy gathering foliage. Dogwood plants need acidic well-drained soil in full to partial shade. Failure to provide these conditions will encourage disease and pest problems.

Pests That Cause Leaf Drop

Some of the most common pest causes of a dogwood tree dropping leaves are:

• Borer insects
• Scale
• Dogwood sawfly

Insect pests are usually the easiest to diagnose. Borers leave piles of sawdust near the holes they make, scale is visible as little armored bumps along stems and sawfly larvae cause skeletonized leaves with whitish powder coating them. Borers and scale respond to appropriate insecticides while sawfly larvae are large and obvious enough to hand pick and destroy. Treating a diseased dogwood is a bit harder and requires correct diagnosis of the disease.

Treating Dogwood Leaf Diseases

Diseases of dogwood are the usual suspects when leaves are falling prematurely and include:

• Powdery mildew
• Leaf spot disease
• Canker
• Anthracnose

One of the most recurring causes of leaf drop is powdery mildew. Many varieties of plants can get this fungal infection, which cause leaves to get a white coating and eventually suffocate and die. If a tree has a lot of powdery mildew, the overall health of the tree is affected due to minimized harvest of solar energy. Fungicides can be effective or you can prune out the infested areas. If the disease is a common problem in your area, it is best to choose a cultivar with powdery mildew resistance. Leaf spot disease also occurs on twigs and buds. It causes brownish tan spots on foliage, especially on shaded trees after heavy rains in the warm seasons. Prune out affected stems and leaves and destroy the plant material. Crown canker is a serious disease that will eventually girdle the tree, causing not only leaf drop but complete die back. The tree will need to be removed and destroyed. Anthracnose affects many ornamentals. It is characterized by purple spots on bracts and leaves in spring. Usually no treatment is necessary, but in severe cases, use fungicide at bud break. Follow with the spray every 7 to 14 days until all the leaves have opened.

The gray dogwood isn't a tidy or attractive plant that you would want to plant in a well-groomed garden, but if you are planting a wildlife area or want a shrub for difficult conditions, it may be just what you need. Read on for information about this humble shrub.

Gray Dogwood Information

Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) is rangy and even a little scraggly, with suckers springing up all around it. The fall leaves are dark reddish purple, and while the color is interesting, you wouldn't call it attractive. The white winter berries only last a short time and don't add much to the appearance of the shrub. Although you may not want to plant it in a formal garden, it is right at home in a wildlife area or a location with poor, wet soil. As wildlife plants, gray dogwood thickets provide shelter, hiding places, and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. Several species of birds eat the berries, including Eastern bluebirds, Northern cardinals, Northern flickers, and downy woodpeckers. The flowers attract butterflies, and some species use them as larval host plants.

Growing Gray Dogwoods

Although you can grow it as a tree, a gray dogwood tree soon becomes a multi-stemmed shrub without constant attention in removing the suckers. Growing gray dogwood shrubs in a row provides a screen against unsightly views, strong winds, and harsh sunlight. Gray dogwood care is a snap too. The shrubs thrive in full sun or partial shade and almost any soil. They aren't bothered by air pollution. These shrubs tolerate dry soil, so they seldom need watering, and never need fertilizer. The biggest task in caring for gray dogwood is keeping the suckers at bay. Pull them up whenever possible. If you have to cut them, cut them at the source below the surface of the soil. Partially removed suckers soon return.

Is Gray Dogwood Invasive?

Any plant growing in its native range has natural controls to keep it in check, so native plants aren't invasive. Gray dogwood is a native plant that is not considered invasive in any part of the U.S. In fact, it is recommended as an alternative to invasive shrubs such as non-native honeysuckle. Gray dogwood can, however, become aggressive in the landscape. It produces multiple suckers that become new stems. Over time, the shrub forms a thicket unless it's thinned from time to time.

The dogwood is a favorite ornamental tree with numerous seasons of interest. As a landscape tree, it offers flowering spring beauty, a fall color show, and bright berries in winter. In order to get all these attributes at their peak, it is a good idea to apply fertilizer for dogwoods. 

But do you know when to feed dogwood trees, or how to fertilize dogwoods? Timing and know-how are the keys to success in everything. Read on for information to keep your dogwood looking its best.

When to Fertilize Dogwood Trees

Dogwoods are native to Eurasia and North America in temperate to warm regions. The plants are part of a classic landscaping scheme of natural deciduous trees and shade to partial shade understory plants. 

The delicate flower-like bracts liven up the garden and lead up to a festive display of colorful berries. Fertilizing dogwood trees in spring will produce good tree health and vitality to ensure the best displays. 

The key to useful plant feeding is to time it correctly. Fertilizing dogwood trees too late in the season might inadvertently cause a flush of new growth, which would be too sensitive to survive an early cold snap. The better idea is to feed the tree in early spring and again three months later. This will give the plant all the extra nutrients it needs during the growing season.

Dogwood Tree Food

The type of dogwood tree food is an important consideration too. New trees need a different ratio than established specimens. Dogwood trees need slightly acidic soil to thrive. 

Before you apply any fertilizer for dogwoods, it is a good idea to test your soil and see what nutrients it lacks and if the pH is suited to your plant. If the soil is not acidic, you can use an acid lover's fertilizer suitable for such plants as rhododendron and holly. 

In most regions, a ratio of 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will be sufficient. Such a ratio is higher in nitrogen, which is what the plant needs to form leaves and vegetative growth. That being said, too much nitrogen can limit the flowering in dogwoods.

How to Fertilize Dogwoods

Young trees should not be fertilized the first year, as they are too sensitive at planting and damage could occur at the root level. If you feel you must fertilize, use an organic tea, diluted to half. 

Once the tree is at least 6 feet (2 m.) tall, use ¼ cup (2 oz.) of fertilizer in February to March, and feed again three months later. The granular form is useful and should be dug in around the edges of the root zone. Make sure you water well after fertilizing. 

Mature trees benefit from ½ cup (4 oz.) per inch (2.5 cm.) of trunk. You can also gauge the amount by figuring 3 ounces (28 g.) of fertilizer per every 1,000 square feet (93 square m.). Scatter the grains within 100 square feet (9.5 square m.) of the tree and scratch into the soil. 

The adult tree's root zone will go out that far from the tree and the wide area will have a better chance of delivering the food to the root system.

Dogwoods are native ornamental trees. Most flower and fruit and have dazzling fall displays as the leaves change color. Peeling bark on dogwoods may be the result of serious disease or it could be a natural condition in some species. Knowing the species of your tree is crucial to deciding if a dogwood with peeling bark is in danger or if it is a normal occurrence. Dogwood is both a native and introduced species across North America, especially the cooler climates. The plants may be trees or shrubs in form, but all of them offer extraordinary color and many of them flower. Many of the varieties are deciduous and provide a rich fall color display followed by bright green, yellow, coral, and orange revealed stems. They are quite winter hardy but are sensitive to mechanical injury and a variety of pests and diseases. For this reason, the tree bark flaking on dogwood trees may be the result of a canker, borer, string trimmer, or fungal disease, to name but a few.

When a Dogwood with Peeling Bark is Normal

The Kousa dogwood is an ornamental tree that is more cold tolerant than flowering dogwood. It has bark which peels off in irregular patches, revealing a mosaic of mottled colors underneath. The dogwood bark peeling off is part of this tree's appeal, along with its winter interest and fall display of purple leaves. Other times that peeling bark on dogwoods may be normal is when it occurs due to wild herbivores rubbing their antlers or standing on the trunk. Small rodents may also chew on trunks and cause sloughing bark. None of these conditions are good for the tree but would be categorized as wildlife problems and completely normal in certain regions. Sunscald on young trees may also result in peeling bark. It is a good idea to site them where winter sun won't be aggressive or paint the trunk with latex paint thinned with water. Drought conditions can cause cracked bark near the base. This condition is easily corrected by giving the plant supplemental moisture.

Dogwood Tree Bark is Peeling Due to Disease

Dogwood anthracnose is a common disease in the Cornus genus. It causes yellow leaves and twig dieback, as well as sunken discolored areas of tissue. These are common symptoms of branch and crown canker as well. Basal trunk canker will cause splitting and some loss of bark. It also presents with lesions in the tree that weep sap and can seriously affect the health of the tree. It is best to consult an arborist for either of these diseases which cause peeling bark on dogwoods.

Pests that Cause Tree Bark Flaking on Dogwood

Dogwood bark peeling off may be the result of tiny insects that do more harm than good. The dogwood twig borer is a nasty pest that gets into the vascular tissue of the tree and undermines the tissue. It lives in the tree's tissue and causes bark upheaval in infested locations. These invasive creatures may be difficult to detect until widespread damage is done because they hide away from investigative eyes inside the plant. Other borers, like the apple tree borer, also appear to favor Cornus trees and cause similar damage. Scale insects in high concentration may make it appear that the dogwood bark is peeling. This is because when they mass on a stem, they seem like hard-bodied scabs which can be easily flicked off with a fingernail. They have the appearance of damaged bark but are actually insects subject to pesticides and manual removal.

Dogwood is a popular ornamental tree with its flowering bracts, elegant foliage, and bright red fruits. These plants are relatively hardy, but they do have their Achilles' heels. We have all heard the fables about how even the smallest can bring down the mighty. This is true with a host of fungal and bacterial diseases of dogwood or tiny insects that may infect or infest your dogwood tree. The issues affecting dogwood trees are too numerous for this writing, but we can cover some of the most common dogwood problems. Dogwoods need fertile, moist soil with good drainage. They are understory trees and require dappled lighting with protection from the hottest rays of the day. Even plants with good site conditions, annual fertilizer, and adequate water may still encounter dogwood tree problems that destroy their health and vigor.

Diseases of Dogwood

Dogwood anthracnose is one of the most common fungal diseases to attack this plant. It starts out with blighted leaves, showing purple margins, and tan color around the edges of leaves. Secondary signs may include cankers on twigs and smaller branches. These gradually extend to the trunk of the tree with necrotic weeping areas. Spot anthracnose, septoria leaf spot, and powdery mildew are all conditions that affect the leaves. Root rots and canker disease abound and thrive in moist conditions. There are listed fungicides and bacterial agents to combat the various disease issues affecting dogwood trees. Check with your local County Extension office for help in treatment or contact a certified arborist.

Dogwood Tree Pests

Hardly any ornamental tree is without its fans. Dogwood trees have several insects and their larvae that call the tree their home. Significant loss of vigor and illness can result when these tiny marauders invade in quantity.

• The dogwood borer is the most noteworthy pest of the tree. Larvae live in the cambium layer and their travel and eating damage the flow of nutrients and water. Often branches can die.
• Numerous scale insects are dogwood tree pests.
• The dogwood sawfly larvae feed on the foliage and the dogwood club gall midge causes spindle-shaped swelling on twigs.

In large colonies, the only treatment is pesticide sprays to prevent loss of health in your tree. Read all the directions carefully and use a targeted formulation.

Other Common Dogwood Problems

Dogwoods do not respond well to drought or flooding. They need fertile soil, so in poor soils they will eventually decline. The foliage may burn or turn reddish in summer when there is insufficient water. Use mulch 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm.) deep and 3 feet (1 m.) around the trunk to conserve moisture. Just be sure it doesn't touch the trunk. Speaking of trunks, the tree is susceptible to mechanical injury, which will open the gate to insect invasions or fungal issues. Most dogwood tree problems can be avoided by giving adequate care and choosing healthy dogwood varieties that are suited for your area.

The giant dogwood has such an appealing appearance that it's also known as the wedding cake tree. This is due to its tiered branch structure and elegantly variegated white and green leaves. Wedding cake tree care for young plants should be consistent until establishment but mature variegated giant dogwood trees are quite hardy and tolerant, provided they are kept moist. Read on to learn more about this interesting flowering dogwood variety.

Giant Dogwood Information

The wedding cake dogwood has the grown-up moniker Cornus controversa ‘Variegata.' This lovely tree grows up to 50 feet (15 m.) tall but more commonly 25 to 30 feet (8-9 m.) in height. It is a native of Asia, which can be planted in United States Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 8. These trees are easy to grow and susceptible to only a few pests and diseases. The wedding cake dogwood is a fast-growing tree that does well in either partial shade or full sun. The limbs are horizontal, giving the appearance of layering, but as the plant matures, they tend to droop a bit. In spring it produces a brilliant display of creamy white flowers. An interesting nugget of giant dogwood information reveals these flowers to be leaves. The flowers are actually bracts, or modified leaves, that form around the very tiny and mundane real flower. The flowers develop into bluish black berries that are favorites of birds, squirrels, and other animals. In fall the leaves turn a rich red and in spring the bright green tops of new leaves complement the variegated silvery white tinged under leaves.

Growing a Giant Dogwood Tree

These trees are not found in many nurseries, but if you are lucky enough to find one, take care to situate it in a good location and provide basic wedding cake tree care as it establishes. The best place for variegated giant dogwood trees is in slightly acidic soil where there is dappled lighting. It will also perform well in full sun situations. You can plant it in either clay or loam, but the soil should be slightly moist but not boggy. Take care to provide enough space above and on the sides for the adult height and spread of this majestic tree.

Care of the Wedding Cake Dogwood

After planting, it is a good idea to stake the young tree for straight strong growth. Provide water weekly for the first few months, and thereafter supplement moisture in very dry periods and in summer with a deep drench every couple of weeks. This tree is resistant to many pests but does occasionally have a problem with dogwood borers and scale. It is resistant to Verticillium but may become prey to canker diseases and root rot. Overall, it is a very easy tree to care for and worth having for its many seasons of interest.

Flowering dogwoods are native to most areas of the eastern United States. They are useful as understory trees for partially shaded locations or even a fully sunny site, but often planted in improper locations and require transplanting. Can dogwood trees be transplanted? They certainly can, but follow a few tips on when to move a dogwood and how to do it correctly beforehand.

Can Dogwood Trees be Transplanted?

Dogwoods are lovely plants with four seasons of interest. Their characteristic flowers are actually bracts, or modified leaves, which surround the actual tiny flower. In fall, the leaves turn red and orange and bright red fruits form, which birds adore. Their year-round beauty is a boon to any garden and should be preserved. If a dogwood needs to be moved, choose a site that is suitable so it doesn't need to be moved again. The trees do well in dappled light in well-drained soil that is moderately acidic. Consider the height of the tree and avoid power lines and sidewalks. It is common to misgauge the height or width of a foundation plant, requiring the need to move it. Dogwoods also often fail to flower because overstory trees have gotten so dense there isn't enough light to fuel blooms. Whatever the cause, you need to know a few tricks for transplanting dogwoods.

When to Move a Dogwood

Dogwood tree transplanting should be done when they are dormant. This would be when the leaves have dropped and before bud break. Provided your soil is workable, this could be in the middle of winter, but northern gardeners will have to wait until early spring. Transplanting dogwoods earlier can damage the plant's health because the sap is actively running and any injury to the roots can invite rot and disease, or even girdle the plant.

How to Transplant a Dogwood Tree

A good idea to maximize the health of the tree and prevent transplant shock is to root prune. This is done the season before you will move the tree. Prune the roots in October for an early spring transplant. Cut a trench around the root zone that you desire, severing any roots outside the circle. The size of the root ball varies dependent on the size of the tree. Clemson Cooperative Extension has a root ball sizing table available online. After the winter season is nearly over, it is time to transplant the tree. Tie up any errant growth to protect branches. It is a good idea to dig the hole first, but if you don't, wrap the root ball in moist burlap. Use a sharp spade to cut around the area where you root pruned and then under-cut the tree at a 45-degree angle. Place the soil and root ball on the burlap and tie it around the base of the trunk. Dig the hole twice as large and twice as deep as the root ball with a hill of dirt at the center base. Unwrap the tree and spread the roots out. Back fill, taking care to use the substrate soil first and then the topsoil. Pack the soil around the roots. A good method is to water in the soil so it sinks around the roots. Fill up to the original soil line and water well to pack the soil. Keep the tree well watered until it establishes. Don't panic if it loses a few leaves, as it will perk up in no time.

Propagating dogwood cuttings is easy and inexpensive. You can easily make enough trees for your own landscape, and a few more to share with friends. For the home gardener, the easiest and fastest method of dogwood tree propagation is taking softwood cuttings. Find out how to grow dogwood cuttings in this article.

Propagating Dogwood Cuttings

Knowing when to take cuttings of dogwood stems can mean the difference between successful propagation and failure. The best time to cut is in the spring, as soon as the tree completes its bloom cycle. You know the stem is ready to cut if it snaps when you bend it in half. 

Cuttings aren't always successful, so take more than you need. The cuttings should be 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) long. Make the cut about an inch (2.5 cm.) below a set of leaves. As you take cuttings, lay them in a plastic basin lined with damp paper towels and cover them with another damp towel. 

Here are the steps in starting dogwoods from cuttings

1. Remove the bottom set of leaves from the stem. This creates wounds to let the rooting hormone in and encourage root growth.

2. Cut the remaining leaves in half if they are long enough to touch the soil when you bury the end of the stem 1.5 inches (4 cm.) deep. Keeping the leaves off the soil prevents rot, and shorter leaf surfaces lose less water.

3. Fill a 3 inch (8 cm.) pot with rooting medium. You can buy commercial medium or use a mixture of sand and perlite. Don't use regular potting soil, which holds too much moisture and causes the stem to rot before it roots. Moisten the rooting medium with water.

4. Role or dip the bottom 1.5 inches (4 cm.) of the stem in rooting hormone and tap it to remove the excess.

5.Stick the lower 1.5 inches (4 cm.) of the stem in the rooting medium and then firm the medium so that the stems stand straight. Mist the cutting with water.

6.Place the potted cutting inside a large plastic bag and seal it to create a mini greenhouse. Make sure the leaves don't touch the sides of the bag. If necessary, you can hold the bag away from the plant by placing clean wooden sticks around the edge of the pot.

7. the dogwood cutting for roots once a week. You can look at the bottom of the pot to see if roots are coming through or give the stem a gentle tug. Once roots form, the stem will resist a tug. You should find that the cutting has roots within six weeks.

8. Remove the plastic bag when you're sure you have roots, and place the new plant in a sunny window. Keep the soil moist at all times. Use half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks until the plant is growing well.

9. When the dogwood cutting outgrows its little pot, repot it into a larger pot filled with regular potting soil.

Dogwoods are among the most beautiful trees found in American landscapes, but not all types are suitable for the garden. Find out about the different kinds of dogwood trees in this article.

Dogwood Tree Types

Of the 17 species of dogwood native to North America, the four most common garden types are native flowering dogwoods, Pacific dogwood, Cornelian cherry dogwood, and kousa dogwoods. The latter two are introduced species that have earned a place in American gardens because they are more disease resistant than native species. 

Other native species are best left in the wild because of their coarse texture or unruly habit. Let's look at the four different types of dogwood trees best suited to cultivated landscapes.

Flowering Dogwood

Of all the varieties of dogwood, gardeners are most familiar with the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). This beautiful tree is interesting all year, with pink or white flowers in late winter or early spring, followed by attractive green foliage. 

In late summer, the leaves turn dark red and bright red berries appear in place of the flowers. The berries are an important food for several types of wildlife, including many species of songbirds. In the winter, the tree has an attractive silhouette with small buds at the tips of the branches. 

Flowering dogwoods grow to between 12 and 20 feet (3.5-6 m.) tall with a trunk diameter of 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.). They thrive in sun or shade. Those in full sun are shorter with better leaf color, especially in the fall. In the shade, they may have poor fall color, but they have a more graceful, open canopy shape. 

Native to the Eastern U.S., this handsome tree thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Flowering dogwood is susceptible to anthracnose, a devastating and incurable disease that can kill the tree. In areas where anthracnose is a problem, plant kousa or Cornelian cherry dogwood instead.

Kousa Dogwood

Native to China, Japan, and Korea, the kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is very similar to the flowering dogwood. The first difference you will notice is that the leaves appear before the flowers, and the tree flowers a couple of weeks later than the flowering dogwood. 

The fall fruit looks like raspberries and it's edible if you can tolerate the mealy texture. If you're going to plant near a patio, flowering dogwood may be a better choice because the kousa's berries create a litter problem. It tolerates the cooler temperatures of zones 4 through 8. There are several noteworthy hybrids of C. florida and C. kousa.

Pacific Dogwood

Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) grows on the West Coast in a band between San Francisco and British Columbia. Unfortunately, it doesn't thrive in the east. It's a taller and more upright tree than the flowering dogwood. Pacific dogwood thrives in USDA zones 6b through 9a.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) is a European species that thrives in zones 5 through 8, although it looks ragged by the end of the season in areas with hot summers. You can grow it as a small tree or a tall, multi-stemmed shrub. It reaches heights of 15 to 20 feet (4.5-6 m.). It blooms in late winter or very early spring, with the yellow blossoms making their appearance before early spring-bloomers such as forsythia. You can use the cherry-like fruit in preserves.

Growing a red twig dogwood is a great way to add spectacular color to the winter garden. The stems, which are green in spring and summer, turn bright red when the foliage drops off in autumn. The shrub produces creamy white flowers in spring and berries that ripen from green to white by the end of summer. Both fruits and flowers look good against the dark background of the foliage, but pale in comparison to the brilliant winter display.

Growing a Red Twig Dogwood

Don't confuse red twig dogwood trees with other dogwood trees. While both the tree and the shrub belong to the Cornus genus, red twig dogwoods never grow to become trees. There are two species of Cornus called red twig dogwoods: Tatarian dogwood (C. alba) and Redosier dogwood (C. sericea). The two species are very similar. Red twig dogwood is one of those plants where more is better. They look fantastic when planted in groups or as an informal hedge. When planting red twig dogwoods, give them plenty of room. They grow up to 8 feet (2 m.) tall with an 8 foot (2 m.) spread. Overcrowding encourages diseases and causes less attractive, thin stems.

Red Twig Dogwood Care

Red twig dogwood care is minimal except for pruning. Annual pruning is essential to keep the brilliant colors of the twigs. The primary goal of pruning red twig dogwoods is to remove the old stems that no longer show good winter color. Remove about a third of the stems at ground level every year. Cut out old, weak stems as well as those that are damaged, discolored, or growing poorly. This method of pruning keeps the color bright and the shrub vigorous. After thinning you can shorten the stems to control the height if you'd like. Cut back the entire shrub to 9 inches (23 cm.) above the ground if it becomes overgrown or out of control. This is a good way to quickly renew the plant, but it leaves a bare spot in the landscape until it regrows. Water weekly in the absence of rain for the first couple of months after planting red twig dogwoods and cut back on the water once the shrub is established. Mature shrubs only need watering during dry spells. Feed the plant once a year with a layer of compost or a sprinkling of slow-release fertilizer over the root zone.

When looking for an attractive specimen tree for their landscaping design, many homeowners go no further when they come upon the Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa). Its unique mottled peeling bark sets the stage for a wide branching canopy, thick branches of bright green leaves, and drifts of white flowers every spring. Keep reading to get tips for growing Kousa dogwood trees and how to take care of Kousa dogwoods in the landscape. Kousa dogwood trees begin life with an upright design, but their branches grow out horizontally as the trees mature. The result is an attractive canopy that will fill a large portion of the yard. Many people use them as a focal point by attaching small twinkle lights to the underside of the canopy, creating a magical look for evening relaxation.

Kousa Dogwood Varieties

There are a number of Kousa dogwood varieties, and the only basic difference is how each tree looks.

• “Gold Star” has a golden stripe down each leaf in the spring, which darkens to a solid green later in the summer.
• “Satomi” and “Stellar Pink” have pink flowers instead of white ones.
• “Moonbeam” has giant flowers almost 7 inches (17 cm.) across and “Lustgarden Weeping” is a smaller version of the tree, often reaching about 8 feet (2.5 m.) tall while still spreading almost 15 feet (4.5 m.) wide.

Whatever Kousa dogwood cultivar you choose, it will have the same basic care needs as all the other varieties.

Tips for Growing Kousa Dogwood Trees

Kousa dogwood does much better when planted in the spring than in the fall, so wait until the last sign of frost has passed before putting in your new tree. When it comes to planting dogwood Kousa trees, it all begins with the soil. Like most dogwoods, these trees enjoy a spot with rich, moist soil in full sun to partial shade. Dig a hole about three times the size of the root ball on your sapling, but keep the depth the same. Plant your Kousa dogwood trees at the same depth they were growing in the nursery. Kousa dogwood trees aren't very drought-tolerant, so make sure to keep the soil moist throughout the summer, especially in the first three years when the tree is establishing itself. Add a circle of organic mulch about 3 feet (1 m.) wide around the base of the tree to help retain moisture to the roots. The bark of the Kousa dogwood is so attractive that you'll want to selectively prune branches to show it off as part of your Kousa dogwood care. If the bark looks good, the mature branches are even better. The older the tree gets, the more the branches grow horizontally, giving the tree a spreading look that with a decorative canopy. From the drifts of flowers in the spring to the abundant bright red berries late in the summer, Kousa dogwood trees are an ever-changing, attractive addition to almost any landscaping design.

To my mind, beautiful flowering dogwood trees seem as though they were designed by a young child. They are simple but amazing trees – not too tall, not too small – with straight stems, horizontal branches, and four-petaled “flowers” that cover the tree in spring. Many gardeners find dogwoods enchanting, and love to include them as stunning ornamentals in their landscapes for years of beauty.

If you are growing dogwood trees, you know all about their potential for four-season appeal. It begins with the simple but charming bract-blossoms in spring. In summer, the foliage appears – a lovely shade of green which can sometimes be variegated with creams and ivories. By autumn, the fruits develop, with berries that attract songbirds to your garden. The cycle finishes in winter, when the leaves have fallen and you can admire the graceful structure of the trunk and horizontal branches.

However, to keep this cycle going at its best, a little tough love is required. Late winter is a good time to think about pruning dogwood trees. Knowing how to prune a dogwood tree means we can continue enjoying the magic of their spring flowers. This article also looks at pruning dogwood shrubs to lock in years of vibrant winter stems. Here’s how (and when) to make those cuts for healthier growth and color, to keep your dogwoods flourishing, and ensure many seasons of ornamental splendor.

Which Dogwood Do You Have?

Before you make your first cut, make sure you know which dogwood you are hosting. Dogwoods generally fall into these main categories, so check before polishing your pruning tools and reaching for the step ladder:

• Dogwood Trees: This group includes the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and the Kousa dogwood (C. kousa). Dogwood trees grow with a central leader (trunk) and are prized for their height and spring canopies in shades of white and pink.
• Dogwood Shrubs: These include the red twig or Siberian dogwoods and yellow twig dogwoods (C. sericea). These are multi-stemmed thickets that are grown specifically for the brilliant neon reds, acid yellows and hot magentas of young bark in winter.

What You Need for Pruning

A few tried-and-trusted pruning tools that are clean and sharp are all you need for dogwood pruning, whether you are looking to prune shrubs or trees. Depending on the thickness of the branches you will be tackling, you’ll likely need some loppers, a pruning saw, pruning shears (or secateurs), and a good blade sharpener.

For pruning dogwood stems up to half an inch (1.3 cm), a pair of bypass pruners are better than anvil pruners. Choose industry-favorite Fiskars Forged Steel Bypass Pruners from Amazon for clean, precise cuts. For tree branches 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) thick, a pair of heavy-duty loppers is your friend. Try Fiskars 32-Inch PowerGear Loppers from Amazon, which are great for leverage.

For any branches with a wider diameter than 2 inches (5cm), it’s best to use a pruning saw. While it might feel like a hit to your pockets, these saws pay for themselves after a couple of years in terms of the trees they could potentially save or manage. Go for something like the Silky Zubat Arborist Hand Saw from Amazon.

Sharpen dull blades with a sharpening tool such as the AccuSharp Garden Tool Blade Sharpener from Amazon. Grab some sturdy gloves like the WZQH Leather Work Gardening Gloves from Amazon to protect your hands, plus some rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol is good) to wipe blades between cuts. Sterilizing your pruning tools will help to prevent the spread of diseases like Anthracnose.

Pruning Dogwood Trees

Unlike many fruit trees, dogwood trees don't demand heavy pruning for shaping. Most types of dogwood trees have naturally attractive shapes. That said, a light touch is a good idea if there are dead or damaged branches or if you wish to limit the size of the tree. In terms of when to prune dogwood trees, the golden rule is to do it while the tree is dormant.

Late winter is the sweet spot. The tree is asleep, and the absence of leaves allows you to see the skeleton of the branches perfectly. Avoid pruning in late spring or summer. Dogwoods are bleeders; pruning during the growing season can cause sap to leak, which attracts pests and increases the risk of dogwood borer infestations.

Walk around your tree and identify any dead, damaged, or diseased wood (the three Ds). These should be removed first. Prune dead and diseased branches at the trunk. Then look for branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other. Rubbing creates wounds in the bark that act as doorways for fungus. Remove the smaller of the two crossing branches.

Remove a few of the smaller inner branches to allow light and air to reach the center of the tree. This keeps the foliage dry and prevents powdery mildew. Then inspect the tree again, looking for any branches that seem out of balance. Trim them, following the dogwood’s natural shape. If the lower branches are hitting the ground or obstructing a walkway, trim them back to the main trunk to lift the canopy and maintain the ‘skirt’ of the dogwood tree.

Pruning Dogwood Shrubs

Pruning is completely different for dogwood shrubs. In fact, you could say it is quite a dramatic affair. While we prune trees for shape, we prune shrubs for color. The brightest red or yellow pigment lives in the new growth. As stems get older, they turn a dull gray. So to keep that winter fire burning, so to speak, when pruning red twig dogwood shrubs and the like, you need to adapt an approach called coppicing.

Coppicing involves cutting the shrub back almost to the ground to encourage fresh, colorful stems to grow. Dogwood shrubs have many stems rather than just one solid trunk, so initially a little patience is required. You need to let the shrub grow for 2-3 years without pruning. This helps it to establish a strong root system. Only after that period of time passes should you coppice for the first time.

As for dogwood trees, prune dogwood shrubs in late winter or early spring while they are dormant and before they have started to leaf. At this point, every 1-3 years, you can ‘hard prune’ dogwood shrubs by cutting the entire shrub back to the ground, leaving just 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) of stem above the soil. Cut back each stem to between 2-4 sets of buds from the ground. Be sure the cuts are smooth and clean. This hard pruning encourages better growth and a nice shape for the shrub.

All of the stems will grow in with a bright tone. By winter, they will be several feet tall and extremely attractive. You can cut back every year, but many gardeners prefer to do a hard prune every other year. Pro tip: If you really can’t bear to have a bare spot in your garden, use the rule of thirds. Each year, remove the oldest third of stems. This ensures you always have a mix of established height and vibrant new color.

Dogwood Pruning Aftercare

Once you’ve finished, give your dogwood a little thank you gift: Apply 2–3 inches (5-8 cm) of organic mulch around the base, using wood chips or a pine-based mulch like Back to the Roots Organic Mulch from Amazon. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself to prevent rot. This regulates soil temperature as the tree wakes up. Mulch the cut stems of shrubs generously.

Remember, pruning is a stressor. If the subsequent spring is particularly dry, ensure your dogwoods get a deep watering once a week to support their new growth. Finally, you might see pruning paint promoted in stores. However, dogwoods are excellent at walling off their own wounds naturally. Follow these steps, and your dogwoods will remain the stars of your garden, offering a masterclass in color from the first bud of April to the deepest frost of January.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dogwood Pruning Toolkit

Your dogwoods deserve care when pruning, so make sure you have the right kit for the job. Keep this trip of tough love superstars close for sharpness, efficiency, precision and comfort:

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Flowering dogwood trees are a beautiful addition to any landscape. Unfortunately, this tree, like many others, is susceptible to attack from pests and diseases that can cause damage and drastically shorten its life. Flowering dogwood problems such as disease and insects always hit weak or older trees first. The most common sign that your tree may be in trouble is when you notice the tree leaves dripping.

Why is My Dogwood Dripping Water?

Oftentimes, dogwood tree dripping, especially when watery in nature, is due to pests. Some of the most common pests that affect dogwoods and lead to dripping tree leaves include borers, scale, aphids, and ants.

• Dogwood Borers - One very devastating problem with dogwood trees is dogwood borers, which are caterpillars that drill tunnels into the trunk of the tree. Weak and older trees are most susceptible to borers that leave wet areas on the bark early on. If you find your dogwood tree dripping sap, it may be a good indication that borers are at work. Once these damaging pests are inside a tree, they are very hard to eradicate.
• Scale Insects - Scale insects are pesky, little bugs that thrive on dogwood tree sap. They excrete a sugary liquid known as honeydew, which can down rain in large amounts and result in tree leaves dripping. Scale infestations are more damaging some years than others and seem to come in cycles. Using an insecticidal soap is an effective treatment for this problem.
• Tree Aphids - Aphids commonly affect ornamental trees and, like scale, will suck the sap from dogwoods. They also secrete honeydew, which can be recognized easily by a dogwood dripping water. Neem oil is a great way to control aphids on trees, or you can use a homemade solution of organic control as well.
• Carpenter Ants and Rot - Some people may find their dogwood dripping water or the tree leaves dripping what appears to be water. It's possible that carpenter ants and rot are causing this problem. These ants are so small that it is very hard to determine whether they are present or not. Carpenter ants feed on rotting wood. If there is a hole in the tree where water has accumulated, ants find plenty for dinner. Unfortunately, carpenter ants are very hard to get rid of once they are inside a tree. They dine on the inside of the tree, and the tree loses moisture through weeping. It is best to remove a tree that has carpenter ants before they move on to other trees in your landscape. Ants can also be found feasting on aphid honeydew, so check for these pests as well whenever you notice a dogwood tree dripping.

Dogwood Tree Sap

Not all flowering dogwood problems are the result of pests or disease. Dogwood tree dripping can also be the result of improper pruning. Sometimes dogwood trees are injured by other causes, such as storm damage. Since dogwood trees are known to be “bleeders,” they respond to injury by releasing sap, which will flow freely from the injured site. This dogwood tree sap is what is used to produce flowers and the tree must be left alone to heal. Always prune your dogwood trees in early summer to avoid injury and prune out any weak or older branches.

Though dogwood trees are, for the most part, an easy to care for landscaping tree, they do have some pests. One of these pests is the dogwood borer. The dogwood borer rarely kills a tree in one season, but if left unchecked, these pests can eventually kill a dogwood tree, especially a young dogwood tree. Keep reading to learn the symptoms of dogwood borers and dogwood borer control.

Symptoms of Dogwood Borers

Most of the severe damage to dogwoods by this pest is caused by the dogwood borer larvae. Most often, dogwood borer larva will embed themselves in burrknots (lumps at the base of the trunk that were formed from undeveloped roots), in grafting collars, or in healed bark wounds. If a wound, grafting collar, or knot becomes infested with dogwood borers, it may appear wet and will take on a reddish color. You may even see some bark fall away from these areas. If the dogwood tree has a bad infestation of dogwood borers, there may even be large patches of healthy bark that will have a wet or damp look and may fall away from the tree easily. Other symptoms of dogwood borers include wilting of new growth, oddly colored leaves, or leaves and branches that die off unexpectedly. In older trees that have been infested with dogwood borers for a long period of time, the bark higher up on the tree may crack and branches may break off. Dogwood borer larvae are pink or light orange in color and are about 3 to 5 inches (8-10 cm.) long.

Dogwood Borer Control

Good dogwood borers organic control starts with proper care of dogwood trees. Do not plant dogwood trees in harsh, full sun as this weakens the dogwood tree and makes them more susceptible to the dogwood borer larvae. Dogwood borer larva are attracted to grafted dogwood trees, so either avoid grafted trees or keep a close eye on the base of these dogwood trees if you plant them. Prune your dogwood tree at the proper time. Do not prune your dogwood trees from April until June, as this will leave open wounds during their most active time, which attracts the dogwood borer. Keep the base of your dogwood free of weeds where the dogwood borers can hide and be careful not to damage your dogwood tree with weed whackers when removing weeds. It is best to simply keep the base of your dogwood tree well mulched. This will not only keep weeds away from the base of the tree, but will keep moisture in the soil, which will make the tree healthier and better able to fight off dogwood borer larvae. If your dogwood tree becomes infested with dogwood borer larvae, proper dogwood borer control is to treat the base of the tree with insecticide in May. This is when the dogwood borer is most susceptible to dogwood borer insecticide. If you discover a dogwood borer infestation earlier or later than this, however, and you would like to treat it immediately, you can. It will not be as effective, but will help reduce the number of dogwood borer larvae, which will reduce the amount of damage to the tree until you are able to treat the dogwood tree with dogwood borer insecticide. If a dogwood tree is badly infested, it may be best to remove the tree to prevent it from infecting other dogwood trees in the area. While dogwood borers can become a serious problem, once you know how to treat for dogwood borer larva and damage, it becomes much less damaging to your dogwood trees.

Dogwood trees are often planted for their lovely spring flowers, so it can be frustrating when your dogwood tree is not blooming, especially when it looks healthy otherwise. It leaves a homeowner wondering, “Why would a dogwood tree not bloom?” There are a few reasons. Let's look at what causes a dogwood to not blossom.

Reasons for a Dogwood Tree Not Blooming

Too Much Nitrogen

Many dogwood trees are planted in the middle of lawns and most lawn fertilizers are very high in nitrogen. Nitrogen is good for growth of leaves, which is why it makes a good lawn fertilizer, but too much nitrogen can stop a plant from flowering.

To correct this, stop using lawn fertilizer near your dogwood tree. Instead, use a balanced fertilizer or a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus.

Too Much or Too Little Sunlight

Dogwoods naturally grow on the edges of forests, which means that they spend part of their day in shade and part of their day in sunlight. If your dogwood tree spends all day in shade or all day in sun, the dogwood tree may not be able to bloom correctly.

When you plant a dogwood tree, consider the type of sun it will be getting. Your dogwood tree should get about a half day of sun to really blossom properly. If you suspect sunlight may be the issue, consider moving the tree or improving the amount of light it gets.

Improper Pruning

A dogwood tree not blooming can be caused by improper pruning. Dogwood trees do not need to be pruned to keep them healthy, but if you are pruning them for shape, be sure that you only prune them after they have finished blooming. Pruning dogwoods at other times can remove the immature buds and cause the dogwood tree not to flower.

Cold Snaps and Temperature

On any ornamental flowering tree, the blossoms will be very tender to cold. It is no different for a dogwood tree's flowers. A cold snap in early spring can kill all of the blossoms but leave the rest of the tree looking healthy. Also, if your dogwood tree variety is not suited to your area, it may not be able to produce flowers due to the cold weather.

Lack of Water

If a dogwood tree does not get enough water, it may not bloom. Make sure that your dogwood tree gets at least 1 inch (2.5 cm.) of water a week. If it does not get this much water a week from rainfall, supplement with a deep watering from the hose that extends to the edges of the canopy of the tree.

The point of having a flowering dogwood tree in your yard is to see the dogwood tree flower in the spring. Making sure that your dogwood tree is getting the type of care it needs is the key to fixing a dogwood tree that will not bloom.

Flowering dogwood trees are small deciduous trees native to eastern North America. They develop showy blooms in spring and grow well in partial shade and woodland areas. Dogwoods grow up to 30 feet (9.1 m) tall and have a pyramidal, but flat-topped growth habit.

Care for dogwood trees begins with providing the right conditions. With this in mind, they require only a little maintenance to stay healthy.

How To Care For Dogwood Trees

Care for dogwood trees depends on providing them with the best conditions. Dogwoods are woodland understory plants. They grow best with some shade. While they can grow in full sun, they will not perform as well.

Dogwood is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. It tolerates cold temperatures well but will not grow well if winter temperatures regularly drop below -15 degrees Fahrenheit (-26 Celsius). High temperatures and drought in summer can also be stressful for dogwood.

Water dogwood trees regularly during the first two seasons after planting, then water only during periods of drought. Avoid over-fertilizing young dogwoods. A light application of general fertilizer in spring is adequate. Better care for new dogwood trees is to add compost to the soil for planting.

When And How To Plant Dogwood

Plant new dogwood trees in spring or fall. If planting in the fall, allow four to six weeks before the first frost to help it get established. Choose a location with at least some shade and enough room to grow. Afternoon shade is best in hotter climates. The location should also have good drainage.

How To Prune Dogwood Trees

Care for flowering dogwood trees includes pruning, although it isn’t required often. Trim off broken, dead, or diseased branches any time of year. Otherwise, you don’t need to prune dogwood trees heavily. Occasionally remove branches to increase airflow and light to the interior of the tree. Do this in the dormant season.

Problems, Pests & Diseases

A dogwood tree should thrive if given the right conditions, but stressed dogwoods are susceptible to several diseases and pests:

• Dogwood anthracnose
• Powdery mildew
• Leaf spot
• Canker
• Leaf blight
• Root rot
• Borers
• Leafminers
• Scale

Dogwood anthracnose is a growing problem. If you suspect your tree has it, contact your local extension office for advice. Signs of this disease include spots on leaves and cankers on stems. Other problems that can cause a dogwood tree to not blossom include too much nitrogen in the soil, incorrect light, and improper pruning.

Propagating Dogwood Trees

The best way to propagate dogwood is by taking cuttings. Remove softwood cuttings, the new growth seen in June or July. A cutting should be at least six inches (15 cm) long. Remove all but one pair of leaves from the cutting.

Lightly score the end of the cutting and dip it in a rooting hormone. Place the cutting in a moist medium and keep it moist and warm. Roots can take five to ten weeks to develop.

Best Dogwood Tree Varieties

There are 17 species of dogwood trees native to North America. These are some notable dogwood cultivars to try:

• ‘Appalachian Joy.’ This white-blooming variety is easier to grow than others. It is less picky about conditions and better resists some of the species’ common diseases and pests, including dogwood anthracnose.
• ‘Cloud 9.’ This cultivar has recently been found to be the same genetically ‘Barton’s White.’ They both flower heavily and earlier in spring than other varieties. They have some resistance to powdery mildew.
• ‘Cherokee Chief.’ This is a cultivar of the pink-flowering subspecies rubra. ‘Cherokee Chief’ has striking red flowers and burgundy foliage in fall. Care for a pink dogwood tree is the same as that of more traditional white varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

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