Flowering Dogwood

Flowering dogwood blossoms (Cornus florida 'Weavers White').
©Edward Gilman, UF/IFAS.

Flowering dogwood is a popular tree native to the eastern U.S., including North Florida. This beautiful spreading tree grows up to 35 feet tall. In nature, the dogwood is an understory tree, so it does best in part or filtered sun. Dogwoods grow best in well drained, slightly acidic soils. They’re not drought tolerant, and should get plenty of water. The dogwood tree blooms for a few weeks in the spring, with four-petaled white flowers. Its leaves turn a spectacular red in the fall before dropping. The tree has bright crimson berries that birds just love. The dogwood can be trained to grow with a single trunk or as a picturesque multi-trunked tree. If necessary, prune yours after it flowers, but before next year’s flower buds form in July.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Trees and Powerlines: Cornus florida 'Weavers White'

UF/IFAS Publications

• Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood
• Topics: Dogwood

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• Gardening for Fall Color
• Moonlight Gardens
• Native Trees