White (Profusely borne showy bracts that emerge green, slowly turning white, and forming square flower-like structures; late spring, after the foliage)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Summer foliage); Red (Scarlet or deep red fall foliage)

Fruit Notes:

Red (Abundant, edible (can be a bit mealy), pinkish-red aggregate fruits (1-1.5" dia.) somewhat resemble large raspberries; attractive to birds; Summer, persist into fall.)

Ultimate Height:

15-20 feet

Ultimate Spread:

15-20 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Notes:

Best in acidic, well-drained soil

Maintenance:

Low 290

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves ( 2-4" long by 0.75"-1.75" wide) are simple, opposite, ovate, with a drawn out tip, and pubescence usually present in axils of veins. Dogwood veins sweep toward, but never contact, the leaf margin. Flower buds at end of stems are fattened and globose with two bud scales that form a sharp point (smaller than in C. florida). Bracts, 1.5-2.5" long and 0.75-1" wide, are larger than the species type. Flowers and fruits much more profuse than species type. Bicolored, mottled bark on many specimens with age.

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Parts and Problems of Dogwood

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

A striking specimen tree flowering later than the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and differing in having pointed bracts. The variety chinesis has larger flower bracts (up to 2.5" long) than the straight species, and 'Milky Way' has an especially abundant flower and fruit set. Better adapted in cultivation than C. florida in much of the Midwest. For best flowering, place in full sun. Quite resistant to anthracnose. Needs watering during severe droughts. Can get borers but less susceptible to them than C. florida.