# Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

> The understory tree of eastern woods, 15-25 feet with layered branches, big white (or pink) bracts in spring, scarlet fall color and red berries birds strip in autumn. It needs acidic soil, afternoon shade and steady moisture, which rules it out for most of Central Texas; it is at home in the East Texas pineywoods.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/cornus-florida · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Dogwood
- Family: Cornaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, drops leaves
- Mature height: 7 m; spread 7 m
- Growth: Medium growth
- USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 9
- Light: Part shade
- Water: Moderate water
- Soil: Rich, well-drained, acidic sandy loam high in organic matter; fails on alkaline limestone and heavy clay
- Native range: Eastern United States from Maine to Florida, west to Kansas and east Texas, and eastern Mexico

**Benefits:** Flowers, Fall color, Birds, Wildlife, Pollinators, Fits small spaces

**Good for:** Small yard, parks

**Watch out for:** Pest prone

## Care

Plant on the north or east side of the house in acidic, well-drained soil with 2-4 inches of mulch to keep roots cool. Water weekly in summer, especially the first few years. Prune in early spring only as needed. Watch for dogwood borer, spot anthracnose, powdery mildew and leaf spot; stressed trees in full sun are most vulnerable.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** United States (Also native in: CT, DC, DE, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV (USDA PLANTS distribution)); AL, United States; AR, United States; FL, United States; GA, United States; LA, United States; MS, United States; NC, United States; OK, United States; SC, United States; TN, United States; TX, United States (Native to the acidic soils of east Texas; not adapted to Central Texas limestone)
- **Recommended:** Washington, DC, United States (On the Casey Trees Tree Rebate eligible species list); Atlanta, GA, United States (On the Trees Atlanta Top 50 Atlanta Trees list); Dallas, TX, United States (On the City of Dallas Article X Approved Tree List)

## Sources

- https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/COFL2
- https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=COFL2
- https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cornus-florida/