Cornus florida - Flowering Dogwood

The Cornus florida, also known as the American flowering dogwood, is a captivating shrub or small ornamental tree with several exciting features. Although it requires some specific cultivation conditions, its white spring flowering on a spreading branch with a Japanese-like appearance and the transformation of its foliage into shades of scarlet to violet in autumn make it a delightful sight where it thrives in non-chalky soil. The Cornus florida can be a stunning sight when planted alone in a small garden or as part of a larger ensemble like a free hedge or a shrub grove.

The Cornus florida is a large shrub that produces beautiful flowers. It is native to regions located in the northeast of North America and belongs to the Cornaceae family. It can grow up to 6 metres (19 feet) tall in our climate and spread to 5 metres. Its shape is broad-conical, formed by a crown of lateral branches that grow horizontally from a single trunk, often twisted. The flowers are moss green with yellow tips and measure between 0.5 to 2 cm (0.2 - 0.8 inches) in length. They appear in clusters just before the leaves, or simultaneously, from May in cooler regions or earlier in mild climates. The clusters are surrounded by 4 large bracts that look like petals ranging from white to slightly pink and are 4 cm (1.6 inches) long. The flowers bloom more abundantly if temperatures are high during summer. The shrub produces scattered, non-edible red fruit 1 cm (0.4 inches) in diameter from September to October. The deciduous foliage comprises green leaves with white margins that take on beautiful autumn colours. The leaves are oval, tapering to a point and measure from 10 to 15 cm (3.9 - 5.9 inches) in length. They are often twisted or curled. The bark of young branches is greenish, tinged with red on their sun-exposed side. As the shrub ages, the bark turns grey and cracks.

The flowering dogwood is a very hardy species that can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C. It thrives in humid climates but can also cope with hot summers. It looks great in small gardens or as part of flower beds and hedges. You can pair it with other shrubs that bloom earlier, such as Hamamelis and Magnolia stellata, as well as fragrant and perpetual lilacs from the Bloomerang series and mock oranges. It goes well with rhododendrons and deciduous azaleas in an ericaceous bed.

The shallow root system of this dogwood remains just below the soil surface, which makes it vulnerable to soil hardening, compaction, flooding, and any other disturbances caused by a spade or mechanical equipment. Therefore, it is recommended to apply organic mulch around the base of the shrub regularly and avoid planting anything nearby.