Summary
Flowering dogwood (Benthamidia florida) is a small deciduous tree that delivers stunning interest throughout the seasons. Dumpling-shaped winter buds burst into gorgeous white-bracted blooms in mid-late spring. Flowers are followed by green leaves and clusters of oval fruits which ripen to a bright red in autumn. Fall color is variable, ranging from shades of orange to purple to red. The textured, bumpy bark and striking branch structure add texture and form to the winter landscape. Flowering dogwood typically develops an irregular rounded habit, reaching 20-30’ tall and wide at maturity.
It prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils in dappled shade. While it tolerates full sun and medium soil moisture, siting flowering dogwood in these conditions can stress the plant, making it more susceptible to disease. In eastern North America, the main pathogen of concern is dogwood anthracnose; a fungal disease introduced in the late 1970s from Asia. Leaf spots and branch dieback are common signs of an infected tree. Disease-resistant cultivars such as ‘Appalachian Spring‘ are recommended in areas where the anthracnose is common. Powdery mildew is also a frequent issue, although this is largely an aesthetic concern.
Autumn Gold flowering dogwood (Benthamidia florida ‘Autumn Gold’) is a cultivar with golden yellow fall foliage (Photo 8) and winter twigs that range from yellow to orange.
Flowering dogwood makes an lovely specimen, understory tree or woodland edge tree as long as it receives shade during the heat of the day. It is excellent companion for pinxterbloom azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides), mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), and Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides). Zones 5-9.
Formerly known as Cornus florida. A 2019 genetic study found that the Cornacea family contained multiple evolutionarily distinct groups.
- Benthamidia (big-bracted dogwoods), woody with large petaloid bracts,
- Swida (blue- and white-fruited dogwoods), woody and without petaloid bracts
- Chamaepericlymenum (dwarf dogwoods), herbaceous plants
- Cornus (Cornelian cherries), woody plants
These groups were given their own genus names to reflect the fact that, although they share morphological characteristics, they diverged from their common ancestor millions of years ago. Other factors, such as distribution ranges and hybridization patterns support this new way of looking at this family.
More Details
- Plant Type
tree - Sun/Shade Conditions
full-to-part-sun - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
medium-to-moist - Flowering Period
mid-to-late-spring - Soil PH
acidic - Flower Color
white - Summer Foliage Color
green - Other Scientific Names
Cornus florida
- Fall Foliage Color
golden-yellow, orange, purple, red - Fruit/Seed Color
red
Additional Information
Illinois Wildflowers, Floridata, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden