dogwood shrub scientific name

Cornus is a genus of about 30–60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods, which can generally be distinguished by their blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark.

What is the scientific name for a dogwood tree?

Cornus florida, commonly known as flowering dogwood, is a small deciduous tree that typically grows 15-30' tall with a low-branching, broadly-pyramidal but somewhat flat-topped habit. It arguably may be the most beautiful of the native American flowering trees.

What is a dogwood shrub?

Dogwoods include a large group of flowering woody trees and shrubs within the genus Cornus. The genus also includes some species that are best described as subshrubs—fast-growing woody plants that tend to die back in winter to ground level and grow back from buds near the base of the plant.

Are there dogwood bushes?

Grow dogwood shrubs in full sun or part shade and moist soil. Many dogwood shrubs grow well in soil that is wet for short periods during the growing season, which makes them suitable for rain gardens and low spots in the landscape. Silky and red osier dogwoods are especially tolerant of consistently moist soil.

Is Cornus the same as dogwood?

Flowering Cornus (dogwood) trees are grown for their showy coloured bracts in late spring and early summer. mas (the cornelian cherry) is grown for its winter flowers and summer fruits. ... This varied group of plants give great garden value.

Why is it called dogwood?

Flowering dogwood is named for the showy spring flowers. The common name dogwood comes from one colonial description of the fruit as being edible but not fit for a dog. The common name dogwood is also thought to be from the use of the wood for skewers or “dogs.” Other common names include boxwood and cornel.

Which dogwood is best?

The variegated dogwood is one of the finest foliage shrubs with floating horizontal branches and delicate green and white leaves. ...
Dark-red stems in winter remain decorative after the ochre and green leaves have fallen. ...
Tiny, golden flowers on bare stems in late winter before the white and green leaves unfurl.

How fast does dogwood shrub grow?

This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year.

How long do dogwood shrubs live?

A healthy, well-developed young dogwood begins flowering when just 2 or 3 years old. The tree usually lives about 80 years, especially when grown under ideal conditions. In its native habitat, it thrives in partial shade under larger woodland trees, where it can become extra tall, reaching a height of up to 40 feet.

Is Dogwood invasive?

The introduced Asian species, Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood), however, is almost totally resistant and never invasive. This is just one example of how native plants are no panacea in the constructed environment of homes, city streets, parking lots, schools and commercial buildings.

Is Dogwood poisonous to dogs?

There are no species of dogwood trees or shrubs (Cornus spp.) that have been reported to be toxic to dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals maintains a website of toxic and nontoxic plants for dogs, cats and horses online at this address http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/.

Is red twig dogwood invasive?

Because of the densely growing underground stems and rapid growth rate, red osier dogwood can become invasive. When growing it in your yard, take steps such as pruning to confine it only to the areas you desire it. Leaf and twig blights, canker and leaf spots are occasionally a problem, as are leaf miners and bagworms.

What is Dogwood good for?

People use American dogwood for headaches, fatigue, fever, and ongoing diarrhea. It is also used to increase strength, to stimulate appetite, and as a tonic. Some people apply American dogwood directly to the skin for boils and wounds. Be careful not to confuse it with Jamaican dogwood.

Where is the best place to plant a dogwood tree?

Selecting where to plant your dogwood: Choose a site for your dogwoods that is well-drained but does not get extremely dry. Soil high in organic matter is best. Dogwoods can be planted in full sun or partial shade, though partial shade is best (morning sun in particular).

How far away from the house should you plant a dogwood tree?

Locating small trees

Medium-sized trees can be planted 15 feet from the house and generally 35 or more feet apart. Small trees, such as the flowering dogwood, may be planted as close as 6 feet from the house and about 20 feet apart.

What is the smallest dogwood tree?

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

This is a very small plant, growing only 3 to 9 inches, although the leaves and flowers look similar to those on larger species of dogwood.

Does Dogwood smell bad?

The Dogwood Tree is picky. Like a small child, Dogwoods may not adjust well to variances in water and nutrient matter. Also like a small child, Dogwoods can be a bit smelly, offering a strong, though not altogether unpleasant, fragrance.

Are dogwood berries poisonous to humans?

A Dogwood tree is a spring flowering tree that bears pink or white flowers. In the fall, bright red berries appear at the point where the leaves meet the branches. Dogwood berries are not toxic when eaten, but there have been reports of rashes after skin contact with the tree.

Is a dogwood a tree or a flower?

Sometimes considered the most spectacular of the native, flowering trees, flowering dogwood is a 20-40 ft., single- or multi-trunked tree with a spreading crown and long-lasting, showy, white and pink spring blooms. A lovely, small, flowering tree with short trunk and crown of spreading or nearly horizontal branches.

Do dogwood trees grow fast?

Growth Rate: Dogwoods grow at a slow to moderate rate (about 20 feet in 25 years). Ornamental Features: Each species brings its own value to the landscape. The “flowers” of the flowering dogwood and kousa dogwood are not actually flowers, but bracts, which are modified leaves that look like petals.

What tree is similar to a dogwood?

The Bradford pear tree is a hybrid that produces small red and orange fruit in the fall. This tree also blooms vibrant soft pastel, pink and white flowers in the spring that look similar to dogwood blooms. Bradford pear trees also grow about the same size as some standard dogwoods.

Can you keep Dogwood small?

A dogwood grows 1 or 2 feet each year until it's about 25 feet tall. You can keep the tree a bit shorter by heading upright branches back by one-third each year, but this may produce a tree that spreads wider than the usual 25 feet.