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Broadleaf Deciduous Trees
Cornus florida
eastern dogwood
Cornaceae
Eastern North America from Maine to Florida, west to Kansas and Texas
At a Glance
TypeTree
HabitSpreading
FoliageDeciduous
Height15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m)
Width15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m)
Maturity12 years
Growing Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones
5 - 9Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy
Key Features
Attracts Pollinators
Native to North America
Maintenancemoderate
Overview
Cornus florida (eastern flowering dogwood) is a small deciduous tree native to eastern North America, reaching 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 m) tall and 15–25 feet (4.5–7.5 m) wide with a distinctive horizontally tiered branching pattern. In April through May, before or as the leaves emerge, four large white bracts 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm) long — each notched at the tip — surround a central cluster of inconspicuous true flowers, creating a showy display held in tiers along every branch. The branching pattern alone makes it an outstanding four-season architectural tree. Oval leaves with characteristic parallel curved venation turn burgundy-red to scarlet in fall. Bright red berries 0.5 inch (13 mm) in diameter appear in clusters in September through November, attracting birds. Critical Pacific Northwest limitation: Cornus florida is highly susceptible to dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva), a fungal disease that thrives in the cool, moist conditions characteristic of the PNW west of the Cascades. The pathogen kills branches progressively from the lower canopy upward and has killed many C. florida in PNW landscapes over the past three decades. Trees in sites with poor air circulation, overhead moisture, and shade are at greatest risk; open, well-drained, sunny sites with good airflow reduce but do not eliminate the risk. Cornus kousa (ID 304) is substantially more resistant to Discula and is the recommended dogwood for PNW gardens where anthracnose is a concern. Note: the database scientific name for this record (ID 302) is formatted with a hyphen ('Cornus-florida'); the correct spelling is Cornus florida.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America from southern Maine south to northern Florida and west to Kansas and Texas, growing naturally in forest understory and woodland margins. Not native to the Pacific Northwest.Suggested Uses
A beloved ornamental tree in its native eastern US, where it grows reliably. In the Pacific Northwest, it can be grown in appropriate sites — open, sunny, east- or south-facing exposures with excellent drainage and air circulation — but requires monitoring for dogwood anthracnose and cannot be considered low-maintenance here. Gardens seeking the tiered dogwood form and spring bract display with less disease risk should consider Cornus kousa, which is substantially more anthracnose-resistant and equally ornamental. C. florida hybrid cultivars with C. kousa parentage (Stellar® series) offer intermediate disease resistance and may be worth exploring.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 25'
Width/Spread15' - 25'
Reaches mature size in approximately 12 years
Colors
Flower Colors
white
Foliage Colors
green
Fall Foliage Colors
red
orange
Bloom Information
Bloom Period
~3 weeksJ
F
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A
M
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O
N
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Spring
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white bracts (notched at tip)Foliage Description
medium green in summer; burgundy-red to scarlet in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Soil Requirements
pH Range5.5 - 6.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamsilt
Drainage
well drained
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Medium
Frost Tolerance
hardy
Time to Maturity
10-15 years
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in full sun to part shade in well-drained, slightly acidic, humus-rich soil. Good drainage and strong air circulation are the most important site requirements for reducing dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva) risk — avoid planting under overhead irrigation, in enclosed corners, or in dense shade. Water deeply but infrequently once established; avoid overhead watering. Watch for anthracnose symptoms: tan spots with purple borders on leaves, wilting of young shoots, and progressive die-back of lower branches with sunken cankers. Prune out infected branches 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) below visible symptoms with sterilized tools. Fungicide applications can reduce but not eliminate disease pressure. Fertilize lightly in spring with an acidifying fertilizer. In PNW gardens, Cornus kousa is a more reliable alternative; C. florida is best attempted in east-facing or south-facing sites with full sun and excellent air movement.Pruning
Prune immediately after flowering (May through June) or in late summer — avoid pruning in wet spring weather, which facilitates disease entry. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches at the collar. When removing anthracnose-affected wood, cut 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) below visible discoloration and disinfect tools between cuts with isopropyl alcohol. Cornus florida has a naturally beautiful branching structure; minimal corrective pruning is needed on healthy trees.Pruning Schedule
J
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late springsummer