1. Botanical Name
CORNUS FLORIDA

2. Pronunciation
KOR - nus FLOR - i - da

3. Common Name
Flowering dogwood

5. Family
Cornaceae

6. Life Cycle
Deciduous perennial

7. Growth Habit
Small tree
20-40’ Height and Spread depending on area

8. Arrangement
Opposite

9. Leaf
Ovate
Length 3” to 6”
Width 2” to 4”

10. Margin
Entire or undulate

11. Veins
Pinnate

12. Composition
Simple

13. Flattened, rounded bud
Fall color

14. Flower Buds set in fall, buds are rounded
Flowers in April, green to light yellow
4 bracts; white, pink or red

15. Flower Story of Christ’s crucifixion
4 bracts=cross, crown of thorns in center, blood red tips

21. Fruit
Fall, edible- bitter
Glossy red drupe, 1/4” in diameter

24. Exposure
Part shade is best

25. Growth
Slow

26. Use
Specimen

27. Description
Aristocrat of native flowering trees
Excellent foliage color

28. Description
Cultivars:
‘Cloud 9’
‘Cherokee Chief’
‘Cherokee Princess’

32. Cultural Practices
Needs acid well drained soil
Mulch

33. Problems
Anthracnose
Borers
Powdery Mildew

34. Zones
5 to 9

35. Native of
Eastern USA