Woody > Cornus > Cornus florida > Cornus florida
Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood
Origin: Massachusetts to Florida, west to Ontario, Texas and Mexico.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A popular understory shrub/small tree that is native to Southern Ontario. This is a spectacular shrub in spring when the large white bracts unfold to give the illusion that the plant is covered in white blossoms up to 5 cm across. There are many cultivars available of which the Rutgers hybrids are reputed to be resistant to the devasting Anthracnose disease that is affecting native and cultivated populations.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Cornaceae |
| Genus |
| Cornus |
| Species |
| florida |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5-9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -23 to -26 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -10 to -20 |
| Height |
| 8 m |
| Spread |
| 3 m |
Photographs
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Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| It was once called Boxwood by early American settlers since the wood is hard and heavy. |
| Landscape |
| A popular understory shrub/small tree which has four season character. Great near a patio, corner of house or other intimate area of the garden. |
| Cultivation |
| Good rich, moist soil in partial shade. |
| Shape |
| Rounded. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Striking autumn foliage and bright coloured fruit |
| Pests |
| Anthracnose. |
| Habitat |
| An understory plant found in the Eastern United States, Southern Ontario and North East Mexico. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Broken into small square blocks, like an alligators back, sepia brown or dark grey |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Flower - usually at the end of the stem, globose, biscuit shaped, covered by 2 large silky scales, surrounded by four white, notched bracts. |
| Leaf Description |
| Opposite, simple, oval, 7.5-16 cm long, abruptly acuminate. |
| Flower Description |
| True flowers are greenish yellow while bracts are up to 5 cm across. |
| Fruit Description |
| Drupe, glossy red 1 cm long, ovoid, 3-4 in a cluster, ripening from September to October. |
| Colour Description |
| Bronze green in summer, pink to red in autumn. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. |
| Propagation |
| Seed requires 90-120 days at 5°C to germinate. |
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