Dogwoods , Cornusspp . , are shrubs , subshrub , and understory trees in the Cornaceae class of flowering plant .

They are native to Asia , Europe , and North America . And there are varieties worthy for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones rank from 2 to 9 .

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A close up horizontal image of pink and white flowering dogwood blooms pictured on a soft focus background.

Tolerant of a multifariousness of well - draining soil , dogwoods flourish in full sun to part shade .

give blossoms , exuberant summer foliage , Charles Edward Berry - similar drupes , autumn color , and striking , often brightly hued branches add four - time of year pastime to the home landscape painting .

For more particular on how to care for dogwood Tree , be sure tocheck out our growing scout .

A vertical image of a white flowering dogwood tree on a blue sky background. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

This guide offers 23 exciting varieties to quicken your appetence for some of the most beautiful trees and woody shrubs available .

Here ’s the lineup :

23 of the Best Dogwoods

Let ’s meet these exciting variety ! Take note of sizes , zone , and colors to match them to your landscaping needs .

Please be rede that the ornamental stone fruit raise by these plantsare for wildlifeonly and not for human consumption , except as notice .

1. Appalachian Joy

C. florida‘Appalachian Joy ’ is an early on - blooming lily-white - flower tree for Zones 5 to 9 .

This cultivated variety sport “ extra ” showy , white , rounded , petal - like bract , or more than the usual four per bloom .

The fork is horizontal , tiered , and upturned at the tips , distinctive of floweringC. floridaandits cultivars .

A square image of ‘Appalachian Joy’ flowering dogwood growing in a park next to a pathway.

‘ Appalachian Joy ’

glowering unripened leave bronze to specter of burgundy , orange , purple , scarlet , and yellow in the fall . brilliant red berry - like drupes pull songster .

Bred for hardiness and mold resistance , mature specimens evaluate 15 to 20 feet grandiloquent and wide .

A square image of the bare red branches of ‘Arctic Fire’ dogwood, surrounded by snow, pictured in bright sunshine in the winter garden.

‘ Appalachian Joy ’ isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

Learn to grow flowering dogwood in our guide .

2. Arctic Fire

Arctic Fire ® ,C. sericea ( syn . C. stolonifera)‘Farrow , ’ is a cultivate variety of reddened branchlet , aka flushed osier dogwood tree , a bush for zone 3 to 7 .

untried branch of this miscellany are bright blood-red , make themstand out boldlyin the barren wintertime landscape painting , peculiarly when it ’s blanket with snow .

Prune regularly to upgrade tonic raw red ontogeny .

A close up square image of the delicate pink and white flowers of Cherokee Brave dogwood pictured in light sunshine.

Arctic Fire

Clusters of white , whiz - like spring flowers and unripened foliage turn to white berries and red leaves in the fall .

matured dimensions are three feet grandiloquent and wide . These shrubs suffer wet soil .

A close up horizontal image of the bright red drupes and green foliage of a cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Arctic Fire ® isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

determine about rise carmine sprig dogwoods .

3. Cherokee Brave

Cherokee Brave , akaC. florida‘Comco No . 1 , ’ is an exceptionally dusty - hardy showy , pink - flowering cultivar that tolerates winter ’s worst with ease in Zones 5 to 9 .

springtime blossoms are bright pink , made even more striking by blanched centers .

scarlet drupes and maroon leaf provide an eye - enamor fall display . Gray , horizontal offshoot are graceful wintertime silhouettes against wintertime white .

A close up horizontal image of the bright red berries and green foliage of Cornus canadensis growing in the garden.

Cherokee Brave

solid heights of 25 to 30 foot and width of 20 to 30 feet program line attending in the dwelling landscape painting . This cultivar march above - mean disease , drought , and pest leeway .

Cherokee Brave isavailable from Fast Growing Trees .

A square image of a garden border planted with variegated Cornus ‘Elegantissima.'

4. Cornelian Cherry

Cornelian cherry , C. mammy , is a tree species suited to finish in Zones 4 to 8 , notable for having edible yield that are lemony and well suit for use in preserves and syrup .

This variety has pocket-size jaundiced prime . The green foliage does not change by reversal in the fall , instead remaining unripe for a holly - corresponding contrast with the bright red yield .

fledged heights are 15 to 25 animal foot with a spread of 15 to 20 feet . Older trees expose grizzly , exfoliate bark for fertile texture and winter interest .

A square image of Cornus ‘Elizabeth Lustgarten’ growing in the garden, in full bloom in springtime.

This mintage tolerates mud filth .

Find hint on growing cornelian cerise Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree here .

5. Dwarf Cornel

hump by several common name , including dwarf cornel , bunchberry , and creeping dogwood tree , C. canadensisis a ground - covering subshrub that readily naturalizes in geographical zone 2 to 6 .

Not intended to be walked on , this decorative low - profile species has lead - similar blooms with showy white , pointed , petal - like bract perched atop profuse gullible foliage .

Red and over-embellished pin foliage and red drupes make an attractive plus to fall plantings .

A close up square image of the variegated pink, cream, and green foliage of Firebird dogwood.

Mature dimensions are four to nine in improbable and six to 10 inch wide-cut . These flora rise best in partial shade .

come up tips on growing dwarf cornel here .

6. Elegantissima

C. alba‘Elegantissima ’ is a shrub for geographical zone 3 to 8 . It is a tame variety ofthe Siberian or Tatarian speciesand has the classic bright red stem one would gestate , but that ’s not all !

The leaf is vary and consists of green leaves with cream margins . Clusters of modest , fragrant white blossoms are an elegant accompaniment .

‘ Elegantissima ’

A square image of the burgundy fall foliage of gray dogwood pictured on a blue sky background.

In fall , white drupes and gold , pink , and reddened leaf contribute their prayer to the seasonal landscape painting .

Expect mature heights of nine to 10 feet and a scatter of eight to 10 feet .

‘ Elegantissima ’ isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

A close up of Cornus ‘Isanti’ growing in a border outside a residence.

See our guide to growing Tatarian dogwoods for more details . ( coming soon ! )

7. Elizabeth Lustgarten

C. kousa‘Elizabeth Lustgarten ’ is a train variety of the Asian kousa dogwood for Zones 5 to 9 .

Kousas blossom tardily in the leaping , are exceptionally hardy , and have showy petal - like bracts that are more pointed than rounded , making them appear almost star - similar .

This naturalise assortment is a crying tree with knavishly cascade branches and clean flush .

A square image of an ‘Ivory Halo’ dogwood shrub with variegated foliage, growing in a garden border.

‘ Elizabeth Lustgarten ’

The green foliage shades to plentiful orange , blood-red , and scandalmongering tones in the fall . Edible jolting cherry drupes complement the exceptional exhibit .

Expect mature dimensions of 12 to 15 infantry tall and 15 to 18 foot wide .

A square image of the foliage of ‘Muskingmum’ dogwood growing in the garden.

‘ Elizabeth Lustgarten ’ isavailable from Nature Hills .

Learn more about kousa dogwood in our growing templet .

8. Firebird

Bright blood-red - pink flower introduce the emergence of the tri - color green , pinkish , and white foliage of Firebird ™ ,C. florida‘Fircomz , ’ a tree diagram for geographical zone 5 to 9 .

Firebird ™

When fall is in the air , red drupes bring to the merry show as the colorful leafage deepens to purple hues .

A close up of the fall foliage of Cornus Neon Burst in the garden.

Mature dimension are 15 to 18 feet tall and encompassing .

Firebird ™ isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

9. Gray Twig

grey branchlet , aka gray or gray - stemmed dogwood , C. racemosa , formerlyC. foeminasubsp . racemosa , is a aboriginal shrub for Zones 2 to 8 .

It has red emerging foliage that shade to gray - green in summertime and abstruse red in fall .

The stems are gray rather than the usual Robert Brown .

A close up horizontal image of the white flowers of a Cornus nutalli dogwood tree pictured on a soft focus background.

Gray Twig

Clusters of small , starry livid flowers give way to lily-white drupes in the fall . The pedicels or fruit stems are an centre - catch bright redness .

This species prefers moist filth but tolerates dry shape well . matured dimensions are 10 to 15 foot tall and spacious .

A close up square image of the drupes and foliage of a pagoda dogwood in fall, pictured on a soft focus background.

Gray sprig isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

10. Isanti

C. sericea‘Isanti ’ is a blood-red osier cultivar appreciated for exceptional moth-eaten hardiness and a heavyset form . It ’s suit to cultivation in Zones 3 to 8 .

Spring brings clusters of small , asterisk - same white blossoms . The fall display is a sheer combination of white-hot drupes and deep red foliage .

In winter , bare carmine stem go on to capture the attention of passersby .

A square image of the bright red, bare stems of red osier dogwood in the fall garden.

‘ Isanti ’

This cultivar is especially at home in wet dirt and uprise to a tiptop and breadth of five to six feet .

‘ Isanti ’ isavailable from Nature Hills Nurseryin # 3 and # 5 container , and bare root .

A close up square image of the small white flowers and textured foliage of the roughleaf dogwood.

11. Ivory Halo

Ivory Halo , C. alba‘Bailhalo , ’ is a crimson sprig Tatarian cultivar with variegated green leaves outlined in ointment margins . It grows in Zones 3 to 7 .

lead - shaped , white flowers clump atop the striking foliage in fountain .

Ivory Halo

A square image of a flowering ‘Satomi’ dogwood tree growing in the garden.

Fall bring white drupes and leaves that bronze to burgundy , purpleness , and carmine hue . And in winter , the classic red ink stems catch the eye across snowy landscapes .

ripe dimensions are five to six feet tall and wide .

Ivory Halo isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

A close up square image of the bright pink flowers (bracts) of Scarlet Fire flowering dogwood pictured in bright sunshine.

12. Muskingum

Muskingum ® ,C. racemosa‘Muszam , ’ is a cultivated variety of native gray dogwood with a compact , ground - covering height . It grows in Zones 4 to 7 .

This bush ’s emerging spring leaf is reddish . It sour gray-headed - green by summer . Starlike , livid flush come out in clusters , and the bark is gray alternatively of Robert Brown .

Muskingum

A square image of a cluster of tiny white flowers of a silky dogwood pictured on a soft focus background.

By fall , the foliation shade to recondite crimson , accented by bloodless drupes .

Mature dimensions are two to three feet grandiloquent and four to five feet wide .

Muskingum ®   isavailable from Nature Hills Nurseryin # 3 container .

A square image of the tiny white flowers of native swamp dogwood pictured on a soft focus background.

13. Neon Burst

Neon Burst ™ ,C. alba‘Byboughen , ’ is a shrub for zone 2 to 7 with vivid yellow summertime leaf .

It ’s a cultivated form of the Tatarian or Siberian dogwood get it on for its bright red radical . To keep them search their best , rationalize out the honest-to-god and showcase the youngest .

Neon Burst

A close up horizontal image of Cornus Venus, with large white flowers growing in the garden, pictured on a soft focus background.

Clusters of minuscule white blossoms in spring and white drupe in declivity are less gaudy , as the foliage is the star of this cultivar ’s show .

From springtime yellow , it tan to tone of burgundy , gold , orangish , purple , and red-faced in the fall .

look proportion of four to five feet grandiloquent and wide .

A square image of the bare branches of yellow twig dogwood growing in the garden in autumn.

Neon Burst ™ isavailable from Nature Hills Nurseryin # 3 container .

14. Pacific

The Pacific dogwood tree , C. nuttallii , is also known as mint or Canadian dogwood .

It ’s a western aboriginal species suited to cultivation in Zones 7 to 9 that offers what flowering dogwood ( C. florida ) does for the res publica ’s eastern side .

This mintage grows as a tree with horizontal , tiered branches and upturned tips .

The spring leaf is gullible . Showy flower have whitened petal - like bract and supply the classic layered look of an easternC. floridaspecies or cultivated variety .

undimmed red or orange drupe complement the fall foliation ’s orangish , red , and yellow timber .

This species toleratesblack walnut juglone toxicityand clay soil . matured dimensions are 15 to 40 understructure improbable with a spread of 10 to 25 feet .

15. Pagoda

The aboriginal pagoda dogwood , C. alternifolia , grows as a shrub or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in zona 4 to 8 .

It has the Graeco-Roman horizontal , tiered branches with upturned tips we ’ve come to identify with native varieties .

cluster of small , starry white blossoms adorn the branches atop the green foliage in springtime .

Unlike most dogwood tree , which have leave diametrical one another , pagoda has alternating leaves , hence the Romance metal money name , “ alternifolia . ”

Pagoda

Toward time of year ’s end , bluish - contraband drupes borne on red pedicels roost attractively on reddish - empurpled autumn foliage .

This specie is tolerant to juglone . Mature dimensions are 15 to 20 groundwork tall with a spread of 20 to 25 feet wide .

Pagoda dogwood isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

See our guide to growing pagoda dogwoods for more detail .

16. Red Osier

Native red osier , C. sericea , formerlyC. stolonifera , is a stunning cherry - stemmed shrub from which many cultivars are descend . It grows in Zones 2 to 8 .

In the spring , clustering of minuscule , starlike , bloodless blossoms and unripened leave decorate the landscape .

Fall ’s iciness alter the foliageto deep Red River , oranges , and purple . blanched drupe mark the seasonal chromaticity .

Red Osier

And in wintertime , the young stem turn are smart as a whip red and make a sensation in a snow-covered landscape painting . Trimming out older branches to raise new growth ensures a colored showing .

Tolerant of wet conditions and clay soil , this species grows to heights of eight to 12 foot and widths of eight to 10 metrical foot .

ruby-red osier dogwood isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

17. Roughleaf

Roughleaf dogwood , C. drummondii , is a native Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree for Zones 5 to 8 with rough textured hoary - brownish bark that depict exceptionally well in snow-white wintertime scenes .

In spring , it shoot a line clusters of small , starry white blossom and unripe folio . Fall deepens the foliage to Burgundy wine , purple , and red . blanched drupes accentuate the rich hue .

Roughleaf

This coinage tolerates slopped soil . wait fledged dimension of eight to 15 feet tall and wide .

Roughleaf dogwood tree isavailable from Audubon via Nature Hills .

18. Satomi

C. kousa‘Satomi ’ is a naturalize variety of Asian kousa dogwood with owing feature for every time of year . It develop in Zones 5 to 9 .

tardy saltation flowers blush with showy pink , pointed bract atop lush morose green foliage , adorning the elegant , horizontal branches with layer of pollyannaish colouring material .

‘ Satomi ’

This metal money has excellent disease resistance and offer an choice to native flowering dogwood tree in areaswhere dogwood anthracnose is prevalent .

In autumn , eatable but not very toothsome jolting reddened drupes in compounding with red leafage create a vivid exhibit .

Mature proportion are 15 to 30 feet tall and wide .

‘ Satomi ’ isavailable from Nature Hills .

19. Scarlet Fire

Scarlet Fire ® , akaC. kousa‘Rutpink , ’ is a kousa cultivar for Zones 5 to 9 developed at Rutgers University . Its lavishly saturated spring and fall color is mythic .

The late natural spring display consists of pointed bract in a show - stopping tone of fuchsia - pinko .

When the leaf sprouts , it has a purplish cast before maturate to glum green .

Scarlet Fire ®

pink - blood-red bumpy stone fruit follow the blossoms , along with ruddy and orange autumn leaves . And in wintertime , the grayish - browned exfoliating barque continues to command attention .

Exceptionally resistant of cold , heat , pest , and disease , this cultivar is a fend - out specimen that achieves fledged dimensions of 20 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 foot wide .

Scarlet Fire ® isavailable from Nature Hills .

20. Silky

sleek dogwood tree , C. amomum , is a songbird favorite with inky blue Berry and red dip foliage that ’s suit to culture in Zones 4 to 8 .

small-scale flowers are star - similar and grouped in clusters . bounce and summer foliage is a succulent green .

Silky

This species tolerates wet soil . Without pruning , the lower branches readily steady down to form obtuse thickets for wildlife to inhabit .

Expect a mature height of six to eight feet and a facing pages of six to nine feet .

Native silky dogwood isavailable from Audubon via Nature Hills .

Learn more about farm this charming tree diagram here .

21. Swamp

At one time look at subspecies of silky cornel , aboriginal swampland cornel ( C. obliquasyn . C. amomumsubsp.obliqua ) is a tree or bush for Zones 4 to 8 .

unexampled spring shoot are purplish and fledged to common . There are clusters of starry lily-white flowers in spring and inky blue drupes at time of year ’s end .

Native Swamp

This plant features no classifiable dusk coloring material and tolerates wet dirt . Mature dimensions are six to 10 feet tall and five to eight feet wide .

Native swamp   dogwood isavailable from Nature Hills .

22. Venus

Venus ® ( Cornus‘Kn30 8 ’ ) is a singular train salmagundi for Zones 6 to 9 . It ’s a hybrid of three cultivar : C. kousa’Chinensis ’ xC. nuttalii’Goldspot ’ xC. kousa’Rosea . ’

This cultivar is part of the Jersey Star ®   serial produced at Rutgers University . It is exceptionally hardy , highly immune to anthracnose and powdery mould , and drought tolerant .

This full-bodied shrub or Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has showy , white flowers ( bract ) six inches across , riotous sorry green foliage , and tiered , horizontal branching for a spectacular late leaping showing .

stone fruit are kousa - dash , red , rotund , and bumpy .

This assortment reaches a mature superlative of 14 to 18 feet , and a breadth of 18 to 24 feet .

23. Yellow Twig

scandalmongering or gilded sprig , C. sericea‘Flaviramea , ’ is a cultivated variety of red osier with vivid yellow stems or else of carmine ones that fork over year - round cosmetic time value in Zones 3 to 8 .

Pruning out old branches helps to maintain optimum colour .

Yellow Twig

In the spring , bask clusters of starry , blanched blossoms against a backdrop of sullen green leaves . By nightfall , white berries appear , and the foliage deepens to burgundy , purpleness , and red tones .

These shrubs abide corpse and cockeyed dirt . Mature heights are six to eight foot tall with an adequate spread .

Yellow twig isavailable from Nature Hills Nursery .

Decorative and Dependable Dogwoods

Whether you prefer tree diagram , shrubs , or subshrubs , you ’re certain to line up unexampled favourite in this lean of 23 best cornel miscellanea .

For good results , choose specie and cultivars suit to your grow zone .

Plant them in locations with full Dominicus to part shade and well - debilitate grunge , and allow for ample room to achieve mature dimensions without overcrowding .

In plus to their decorative qualities , like illume up springtime garden with blossoms , summertime with lucullan leaves , fall with drupes and tanned foliage , and winter with striking unornamented stem , dogwoods are a dependable source of food and shelter for wildlife .

If you enjoyed this rung - up of dogwood and want toread more about landscape painting tree diagram , we recommend the following :

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Nan Schiller