Dogwood, Red Flowering

Cornus florida 'Rubra'

Description:

A simply breathtaking small specimen tree when in bloom, featuring large yet dainty pinkish-red blooms in spring and excellent wide-spreading form; extremely fussy, requires rich, well-drained acidic soil and adequate precipitation, best with some shelter

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;

• Insects
• Disease

Red Flowering Dogwood is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Photo: Courtesy of Canadale Nurseries