Flowering dogwood Cornus florida
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Cornaceae family. It grows 4–8 m (13–26 ft) tall and 4–7 m (13–23 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -28 °C (-18 °F). Space plants about 4.5 m (15 ft) apart.
Plan Flowering dogwood in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Flowering dogwood at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Cornaceae |
| Mature height | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–7 m (13–23 ft) |
| Spacing | 4.5 m (15 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -28 °C (-18 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Flowering dogwood toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
- Parts: berries
Berries are bitter and can upset the stomach if eaten in quantity.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Flowering dogwood
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Flowering dogwood in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Butchart Gardens (1 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (6 plants)
- Riverside botanical garden (2 plants)
Questions about Flowering dogwood
- How far apart should I plant Flowering dogwood?
- About 4.5 m (15 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–7 m (13–23 ft).
- Does Flowering dogwood need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Flowering dogwood need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Flowering dogwood?
- It tolerates about -28 °C (-18 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- When does Flowering dogwood flower?
- From about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Flowering dogwood poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people mildly toxic. Berries are bitter and can upset the stomach if eaten in quantity.
- What grows well with Flowering dogwood?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Flowering dogwood. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Prefers acidic, moist, well-drained soil.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Kousa dogwood Cornus kousa
- Cornelian cherry Cornus mas
- Red osier dogwood Cornus sericea
- Bunchberry Cornus canadensis
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Black walnut Juglans nigra
- English yew Taxus baccata