Flowering Dogwood Tree (Cornus Florida) Live Plant – 15-30 ft – 4 Season Interest

Overview

Transform your outdoor space with the timeless elegance of a Flowering Dogwood Tree (Cornus Florida). This exceptional deciduous live plant offers captivating beauty throughout all four seasons, making it a focal point in any garden or yard. Celebrated for its stunning spring blossoms, vibrant fall colors, and vital winter berries, the Cornus Florida plant provides continuous visual interest and ecological benefits. Its adaptability and hardiness make it a reliable choice for a wide range of climates and soil conditions, establishing itself as a beloved landscape tree across the United States. This magnificent tree is renowned for its distinctive layered branches and graceful form, adding unparalleled charm to any setting.

The Flowering Dogwood Tree is more than just a pretty face; it’s a dynamic addition that evolves with the seasons. From its showy white (or sometimes pink) bracts that emerge in spring, often mistaken for petals, to its deep green leaves that transition into a rich, captivating shade of red-purple in the fall, this tree delivers consistent visual appeal. During the colder fall and winter months, glossy scarlet berries appear, serving as a crucial food source for winter songbirds and infusing a touch of vibrant color into the dormant landscape. This drought-tolerant tree requires relatively low maintenance once established, simplifying its care and allowing you to enjoy its beauty with ease.

Key Benefits

Choosing a Flowering Dogwood Tree for your garden offers a multitude of advantages, enriching your environment with its natural charm and ecological contributions. This versatile tree is a fantastic investment for both aesthetic appeal and environmental benefits.

• Four-Season Interest: Enjoy year-round beauty with stunning white or pink spring flowers, vibrant red-purple fall foliage, and essential scarlet winter berries. The Cornus Florida plant ensures your garden remains captivating through every season.
• Attracts Wildlife: Provides a vital food source and shelter, particularly for songbirds, squirrels, and other small wildlife, enhancing the biodiversity of your backyard. The berries are a life-sustaining treat during colder months.
• Adaptable and Hardy: Thrives across various soil types and climates, ensuring robust growth and resilience. This landscape tree is known for its ability to adapt to different conditions, making it a reliable choice for many gardeners.
• Drought Tolerant: Requires minimal watering once established, making it a low-hassle choice for those seeking a beautiful yet easy-care tree. This feature makes it suitable for sustainable landscaping.
• Beautiful Landscape Tree: Adds unparalleled elegance, charm, and architectural interest, significantly enhancing any yard’s aesthetic appeal. Its unique branching structure and seasonal transformations make it a true standout.
• Ecological Impact: Beyond its beauty, the spring flowering tree contributes to a healthy ecosystem by supporting pollinators and providing sustenance for local fauna.
• Distinctive Form: Its low-branching habit and often wider-than-tall mature form create a graceful, spreading canopy that provides dappled shade and visual depth to your garden.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Flowering Dogwood Tree is relatively straightforward, especially once established. For optimal growth and a spectacular display, understanding its specific needs is crucial. This spring flowering tree prefers conditions that mimic its natural woodland habitat.

Plant your Cornus Florida plant in partial shade to full sun. While it can tolerate full sun, especially in cooler climates, a location with afternoon shade is ideal in hotter regions to protect it from intense summer heat. Well-drained, acidic soil is paramount for its health; it thrives in loamy, moist, and even clay soils, provided they are not waterlogged. When planting, ensure the hole is twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, allowing the top of the root ball to be level with or slightly above the soil surface. Water deeply and regularly during its first year after planting to establish a strong root system. Once established, the tree is notably drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent watering.

The Flowering Dogwood Tree typically thrives in USDA growing zones 4 through 9. Fertilize annually in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants. Pruning is generally minimal, focusing on removing dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain its natural shape and improve air circulation. Watch out for common issues like powdery mildew or dogwood anthracnose, especially in humid conditions; proper air circulation and resistant varieties can help mitigate these problems. Regular mulching around the base of the tree helps retain soil moisture, regulate temperature, and suppress weeds, contributing to a healthy and vigorous four season interest tree.

Size & Details

The Flowering Dogwood Tree is a popular choice for its manageable size and stunning presence. This live plant matures to a graceful height of 15 to 30 feet, with an approximate spread of up to 25 feet. Its distinctive low-branching habit often results in a mature form that is wider than it is tall, creating an elegant, spreading canopy that provides welcome dappled shade. The growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy its developing beauty over the years.

When you receive your Cornus Florida plant, it will be a carefully selected specimen ready for planting. The best time to plant is in early spring or during the fall season for optimal establishment. With proper care, your landscape tree will begin to showcase its breathtaking display of showy white flowers typically from April to May, and its vibrant fall colors will provide a dramatic spectacle for years to come. This robust tree is shipped in a healthy condition, ensuring a strong start for your garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big will this Flowering Dogwood Tree get? A: This Flowering Dogwood Tree typically reaches 15-30 feet in height and spreads about 25 feet wide at maturity, forming a graceful, broad canopy. Its size makes it an excellent choice as a landscape tree.
• Q: What are the best conditions for planting a Cornus Florida plant? A: For optimal growth, plant your Cornus Florida plant in partial shade to full sun, ensuring the location has well-drained, acidic soil. Afternoon shade is beneficial in warmer climates.
• Q: How often should I water my new Dogwood tree? A: During its first year after planting, water deeply and regularly to establish strong roots. Once established, the Flowering Dogwood Tree is notably drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent watering.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a spring flowering tree? A: For the best results and successful establishment, plant your spring flowering tree in early spring or during the fall season, before the ground freezes.
• Q: What growing zones are best for this tree? A: The Flowering Dogwood Tree thrives and performs best in USDA growing zones 4 through 9, adapting to a wide range of climates across the United States.
• Q: Is the Flowering Dogwood Tree a good choice for attracting wildlife? A: Yes, the berries of the Flowering Dogwood Tree serve as a crucial food source for winter songbirds and other small wildlife, making it an excellent choice for attracting nature to your yard.
• Q: Does this tree offer year-round interest? A: Absolutely! This four season interest tree provides stunning spring flowers, vibrant fall colors, and vital winter berries, ensuring continuous visual appeal throughout the year.
• Q: What kind of soil does the Cornus Florida plant prefer? A: The Cornus Florida plant prefers well-drained, acidic soils. It adapts well to loamy, moist, and even clay soils, as long as they are not waterlogged.
• Q: Is the Flowering Dogwood Tree difficult to care for? A: No, once established, the Flowering Dogwood Tree is relatively low maintenance. It’s drought-tolerant and generally only requires minimal pruning.
• Q: Will the flowers be white or pink? A: This particular listing is for the classic white-flowering variety of the Flowering Dogwood Tree, Cornus Florida.