Trees & woodland lore · Western North Carolina field companion
Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida
Whole tree — Cornus florida. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.◐ Part sun or part shadeJim Janke ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.
Problems to recognize in WNC gardens. These are documented susceptibilities, not a local outbreak report or a diagnosis. Weather, elevation and growing conditions change the risk.
Diseases & similar-looking injury
Spot anthracnose and powdery mildew are familiar problems. Serious dogwood anthracnose is a WNC concern, especially in cool, moist mountain settings; watch for leaf blotches followed by twig dieback.
Insects to recognize
Dogwood borer and scale can affect stressed trees. Inspect the lower trunk for damage and twigs for attached scales.
When to look
Look at bracts and new leaves in spring; continue checking leaves and dying twigs through summer.
A useful first step
Keep mulch off the trunk and avoid bark injuries. Ask Extension to distinguish cosmetic spotting from anthracnose that spreads into branches.
More growing details
Read the leaves
Trace the curved side veins on a simple leaf. Opposite arrangement and nearly smooth edges narrow the choice.
Read the bark
Mature bark breaks into small dark square blocks.
Fruit & seed
Individual glossy red fruits occur in small clusters; they are not the round fused fruit of kousa.
Winter character
Rounded flower buds look like small buttons above paired twigs.
Origin & place
The species occurs naturally in the southern Appalachian region; a planted specimen is not evidence of wild local origin.
WNC Notes
A native understory tree. Provide suitable drainage and moisture, protect the trunk, and watch for anthracnose in cool, moist mountain settings.
Sun Exposure
Morning sun–part shade
MATURE HEIGHT (FT)
15–25
MATURE WIDTH (FT)
15–30
BLOOM SEASON
Mid spring
BLOOM COLOR
White bracts
FALL / WINTER COLOR
Red-purple
Wet-Soil Tolerance
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Low–moderate
LOOK CLOSELY
Two views, a closer look.
Place two photographs beside one another. Compare the overall plant with leaves, flowers, or bark when those views are available. Captions identify what each photograph actually shows. Images are not at the same scale; species references may show different cultivars.
Whole tree — Cornus florida. Species reference; the photographed specimen does not confirm the named variety. Age, pruning, and site affect its shape.◐ Part sun or part shadeJim Janke ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Species reference; does not confirm the named variety. Photograph subject: Leaves - Fall- Warren Co., NC◐ Part sun or part shadeCathy DeWitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Species reference; does not confirm the named variety. Photograph subject: Cornus florida◐ Part sun or part shadeRandy Harter ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Species reference; does not confirm the named variety. Photograph subject: Cornus florida◐ Part sun or part shadeJim Janke ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Leaves - Fall- Warren Co., NC. Taxon reference; photograph alone does not establish a named cultivar.◐ Part sun or part shadeCathy DeWitt ↗ · CC BY 4.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; no diagnostic content altered.Cornus florida berries — species reference; cultivar identity not inferred.◐ Part sun or part shadeKristine Paulus ↗ · CC BY 2.0Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; full original composition retained.Flowering dogwood bark close-up — species reference; named cultivar identity not inferred.◐ Part sun or part shadePhoto by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) ↗ · CC BY-SA 2.5Photo contextResized and converted to WebP; original composition retained.
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