Dogwood Tree Varieties: Popular Cultivars for Every Garden

Overview

Dogwood (Cornus florida) boasts 100+ U.S. varieties/cultivars. Deciduous, rounded canopy, to 40 feet. Cold hardy to 15°F; some need more chill than warm climates (e.g., Florida) provide. Prefers full sun to part shade, rich, well-drained, acidic soil. No drought or waterlogging tolerance. True flowers are small, greenish-yellow; showy "petals" are bracts.

Cornus florida 'Rubra'

Moderate growth, pink bracts. 20–25 feet. Light green spring foliage, dark green summer, red-purple fall.

'Cherokee Chief'

Red bracts, 15 feet. Yellow-green to green spring/summer, bronze fall.

'Cherokee Princess'

Slow-growing, 15 feet, larger white bracts. Yellow-green to green spring/summer, red fall.

'Cherokee Daybreak'

White bracts, 25 feet. Light green spring, variegated summer, pink to deep red fall.

'Mystery'

14 feet, 12-foot spread, slow. White bracts. Yellow-green to green spring/summer, red-purple fall. Early flowering.

'Purple Glory'

Slow, 15 feet. Red bracts. Red-green spring, purple summer, red-purple fall.

'Cherokee Sunset'

25 feet, moderate. Purplish-red bracts. Red-purple spring, variegated summer, red-purple fall.