Dogwood

Description

Botanical Name: Benthamidia florida, formerly known as Cornus florida

Common Name: Dogwood, Flowering Dogwood, Virginia Dogwood, Florida Dogwood, White Cornel, Arrowwood, American Boxwood, False Box, St. Peter’s Crown, Corona De San Pedro

Description:     Another one of Florida’s stunning small trees.

‘When in bloom, Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is arguably one of Florida’s most beautiful flowering trees. Though dormant in winter, the tree comes alive in early spring. Before leaves emerge, a bounty of showy white to pinkish blooms cover the crown. From late summer to fall, its abundant fruit provides food for a variety of birds and small mammals. Flowering dogwood occurs naturally along the edges of mesic hardwood forests and pinelands throughout North Florida.

On first sight, flowers appear to have four large white petals with greenish-yellow centers. In fact, those “petals” are bracts and the centers are a cluster of tiny flowers, each with minute greenish-yellow bracts. The large bracts are typically white but may be pinkish to almost red. They are broadly ovate with a distinctly notched apex. Flowers are born in clusters on the tips of each branch. Leaves are simple and ovate with entire margins and veins that curve toward the apex. Leaf arrangement is opposite. Fruits are large bright red drupes born in clusters of two to 10. The tree is multi-trunked and multi-branched with a spreading crown.’ ~Florida Wildflower Foundation~

It is very sensitive to what type of soil it likes to be planted in. Does poorly in neutral or alkaline soils. Needs moderately moist to dry, well-drained acidic soils. Dogwoods do not tolerate heavy foot traffic or extra soil piled around their root areas. Is not considered drought tolerant.

Part sun to part shade. 20 – 30 feet tall x 15 – 20 feet wide. It doesn’t like to be in lots of afternoon summer sun. It needs lots of extra water the more sun it’s in. Has a medium growth rate of 13-24″ per year.

Attracts long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. Is a larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon). It is of special value to native bees, and supports conservation biological control (meaning it attracts all the good bugs to your garden). Mildly deer resistant.

Dogwoods can get a fungus called Dogwood Anthracnose (Discula destructiva). It can be controlled by the use of organic bio-stimulants. Bio-stimulants contain a natural blend of sugars, bacteria, humic acid, sea kelp extract, and good fungi. This mix naturally fertilizes the soil and provides your tree with the food they need to grow and maintain overall wellness. Bio-stimulants support the immune system of the tree so they are better equipped to resist and survive an attack of Dogwood Anthracnose. Prune out any diseased branches/stems and rake up all leaves under the tree to stop the spores from spreading. A fungicide rated for spot anthracnose can be also be used. But keeping your tree healthy is the best way to prevent the disease from attacking the tree.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray.

This plant in 3-gallon containers is 1.5 – 3′ tall.

This plant in 7-gallon containers is 3 – 5′ tall.

Plant Lore: Dogwood has had many uses: A tea from the bark was used to treat pain and fever, and a poultice from the leaves to cover open wounds. Native Americans made a red dye from the roots and used the bark and roots to treat malaria. The dense wood has been used for many artisan items, including walking canes, arrows and wine presses.

Florida Hardiness Zones 8 – 9