Shrub Cornus alba [Tatarian Dogwood] Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color. Leaf blight can be a problem.
Shrub Cornus alba 'Kesselringii' [Kesselring Tatarian Dogwood] This cultivar is known for its deep purple twigs in winter and rich reddish-purple foliage in fall. Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color. Canker can be a problem.
Shrub Cornus alba 'Regnzam' [sold as Red Gnome™] [Dwarf Red Twig Tatarian Dogwood] 'Regnzam' is a compact cultivar, also known for its bright red stems and fall foliage. Grows well in a variety of situations, including wet soil. Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color. Leaf blight can be a problem.
Tree Indiana Native Cornus alternifolia [Pagoda Dogwood] Broad-spreading, low branched, forming stratified tiers, very interesting branching habit. Leaf spot and twig blight/canker can be problem for older trees.
Tree Cornus kousa [Kousa Dogwood] A striking specimen tree flowering later than the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and differing in having pointed bracts. Variable in bract size and shape, and in habit. 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.
Tree Cornus kousa var. chinensis 'Milky Way' [Milky Way Chinese Kousa Dogwood] 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…
Shrub/Tree Cornus mas [Cornelian Cherry Dogwood] Large multi-stemmed shrub or small tree of oval rounded outline, usually branching to the ground. Small yellow flowers are beautiful when borne in mass in the spring. No serious disease problems. Sometimes it suckers abundantly, and these suckers should be removed to control spread; this is especially important if maintaining this plant in tree form.
Shrub/Tree Indiana Native Cornus racemosa [Gray Dogwood] The Gray Dogwood is a tough, suckering, deciduous shrub that is native to Indiana and is noted for its small, white flower clusters, white fruits, and persisting red fruit pedicels. Tolerates poor soils (including wet soils), drought, full sun, full shade, and air pollution. Suckers can become a problem if not controlled.
Shrub Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' [Midwinter Fire Bloodtwig Dogwood] 'Midwinter Fire' is a suckering shrub that is notable for its yellow winter twigs that are tipped in red and golden fall foliage. Grows well in a variety of situations, including alkaline soil. Easy to transplant. Relatively trouble-free. A three-year pruning cycle improves form, vigor, and winter stem color effect. Cutting all stems 6-12" from ground in late winter has similar effect. Best in mass plantings. Excellent for winter color.
