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Red Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida 'var. rubra' Height: 30 feet Spread: 35 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 6 Description: A breathtaking small tree with large, yet dainty pinkish-red blooms in spring; requires rich, well-drained acidic soil and adequate precipitation. In Middle Tennessee, Dogwoods perform well as understory trees; in partial shade locations Ornamental Features Red Flowering Dogwood features showy clusters of pink flowers with pink bracts held atop the branches in mid spring. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding brick red in the fall. It produces red berries from early to late fall. The warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape. Landscape Attributes Red Flowering Dogwood is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with a stunning habit of growth which features almost oriental horizontally-tiered branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Red Flowering Dogwood is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Red Flowering Dogwood will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 35 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years. This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. Nursery Notes In Middle Tennessee, Dogwoods perform very well as understory trees, meaning they are planted under the canopy of larger shade trees. Alternatively, Dogwoods should ideally be planted in partial shade locations.
