Growing Conditions & Care:

• Light: They generally prefer full sun to partial shade.
• Soil: They prefer well-drained, acidic, fertile, and moist soil.
• Uses: Used as ornamental specimen trees, hedging, and to provide structure in winter borders.
• Maintenance: They require minimal pruning, which should be done in late winter.
• Diseases: C. florida is susceptible to dogwood anthracnose, while C. kousa is more resistant. 
• Flowers/Bracts: The true flowers are small and inconspicuous, but are often surrounded by 4-6 large, showy, petal-like bracts (white, pink, or red).
• Fruit: They produce berry-like drupes that are a major food source for birds and wildlife.
• Bark: Some, like C. sericea, are valued for their intensely colored winter bark.
• Leaves: Most dogwoods have opposite leaves, with the exception of Cornus alternifolia (alternate-leaf dogwood).

Uses In The Garden:

• Excellent as a specimen or feature tree in a landscape.
• Suitable for small gardens, courtyards, or woodland settings.
• Provides year-round interest with flowers, foliage, and fruit.