Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Size Class: 12-36 ft.
Fruit Type: Berry
Leaf Color: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower Size: 3 inches, 4 inches
Fruit Length: 1/2 inch
Fruit Color: Red

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MS , MO , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , DC
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: FL to TX, n. to s. ME, Ont., s. IL, extreme s.e. KS & OK
Native Habitat: Thickets, Stream, river banks, Shaded woods. Deciduous woods; thickets; bluffs; wood edges; dry uplands
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rich, well-drained, acid soil. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Acid-based

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, Fall conspicuous, Shade tree, Attractive, Blooms ornamental
Use Wildlife: Fruit-birds, Fruit-mammals, Fruit-deer.
Use Medicinal: Dried, ground bark was used as a quinine substitute for treating fevers. A bark decoction was used to treat mouth problems, and the fibrous twigs were used as chewing sticks, said to whiten teeth. (Kershaw) Tea made of boiled inner bark used to reduce fevers; during Civil War dogwood bark used as substitute for quinine. (Weiner)
Use Other: Some tribes used the roots to make a scarlet dye for colouring porcupine quills and eagle feathers. The bark also yields a red dye. (Kershaw)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Spring Azure.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Cornus florida is a larval host and/or nectar source for:

Spring Azure (Celastrina "ladon" ) Larval Host Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Sow seeds outdoors immediately after collection or stratify and sow the following spring.
Seed Treatment: Stratify for 30-60 days at 41 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Prune to maintain shape, Prune in early spring, Prevent complete soil dryness, Maintain mulch layer, Fertilize in spring and fall with azalea/camellia-type fertilizer

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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Cornus florida (Flowering dogwood) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Albizia julibrissin (silktree)
   Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive)

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Mr. Smarty Plants, I am looking for a native alternative to a Japanese Red Maple. I would like a small tree that I can put in my front garden that will not pose a security risk my being overgrown and too large. We thought the Japanese Red Maple would be nice, because it is a smaller and more contained tree, but I do not want to introduce a non-native plant. PLEASE HELP!
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: What flowers and plants do the caterpillars in Tennessee eat? And do you know what butterflies live in Tipton Co. Tennessee?
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: Looking for non poisonous shade trees for pasture with horses. Would prefer flowering or something that changes color. Thank you.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I'd like to buy a flowering dogwood tree. Love the fall berries and spring flowers. I haven't had been able to find them at the nurseries I frequent (Great Outdoors, Natural Gardener, Breed, Barton Springs). Any advice? And please don't try to sell me on the rough leaf. Thanks!
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

LAMTREE FARM - Warrensville, NC

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, The - Valhalla, NY
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Bibliography

Dale Groom's Texas Gardening Guide (2002) Groom, D.
Earth Medicine, Earth Food (1990) Michael A. Weiner
Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski and Wasowski
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cornus florida in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cornus florida in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cornus florida