Flowering Dogwood

This species may not survive well near the southern end of its range especially if grown in full sun and droughty conditions. And even if it does survive, it does not have the impact that it does in the north, where the flowers stand out in the landscape before any leaves emerge in the spring.



Specimen tree. It is known for its showy white "flowers" in the spring. What appears to be the flower petals are actually large bracts. The true flowers occur in a group in the center of the bracts. They are small and yellow-green.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.



Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Very sensitive to appropriate soils. Does poorly in neutral or alkaline soils. Dogwoods do not tolerate heavy foot traffic or extra soil piled around their root areas.

Birds and small mammals consume the fruit

Mesic hardwood forests, pine-oak-hickory woods, mesic longleaf pinelands.

• Fall color, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance
• Attracts long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. 
• Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).