Cornelian cherry tends to be multi-stemmed and is formed more like a shrub than a tree. This is especially true of flowering and kousa dogwoods sited in shade. One of the most appealing features of many dogwoods is the graceful beauty of their tiered, horizontal branching. Joey Williamson, ©2012 HGIC, Clemson Extension Fruit may be scarlet red (flowering and Cornelian cherry dogwoods) or pinkish red (kousa dogwood).įlowering dogwood ( Cornus florida) in bloom in April. They may bloom in late winter/early spring before leaves appear (flowering and Cornelian cherry dogwoods), or later in spring after leaves emerge (kousa dogwood). The “flowers” may be white, pink or yellow. The true flowers are clustered in the center of these bracts. The “flowers” of the flowering dogwood and kousa dogwood are not actually flowers, but bracts, which are modified leaves that look like petals. Ornamental Features: Each species brings its own value to the landscape. Growth Rate: Dogwoods grow at a slow to moderate rate (about 20 feet in 25 years). The spread may be even greater than the height.

The height ranges from 15 to 20 feet tall (flowering dogwood in the sun) to 40 feet tall (flowering dogwood in the shade). Mature Height/Spread: The height and spread varies depending on the species and its location in the landscape. The flowering dogwood is adapted to all areas of the state and is native to the Eastern United States. Although it is considered one of the favorite trees in the south, there are two other species, kousa dogwood ( Cornus kousa) and Cornelian cherry dogwood ( Cornus mas), which will grow in all areas of South Carolina except along the coast from Charleston to Savannah, Ga. The flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida) is the species most people think of when the word dogwood is mentioned. Joey Williamson, ©2011 HGIC, Clemson Extension Flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida) bloom.

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