Why Plant Firebird™ Variegated Dogwood?
Color, color, color—Firebird™ Flowering Dogwood has it! If you want a parade of color outside your window, then this is the tree for you. In spring, you’ll be treated to a joyful show of pink and white blossoms, followed by a gorgeous display of white, pink, and green variegated foliage. When cool breezes begin to blow in fall, this stellar ornamental tree sports ruby red fruits, while its leaves turn plum-purple and fluorescent pink. Don’t be sad thinking that the show is over when winter comes—you’ll still see the flash of blue and red wings as blue jays and cardinals swoop in to eat the berries!
In the 1990s, Commercial Nursery in Decherd, Tennessee released a red-flowering Dogwood that had an amped-up growth rate, natural disease resistance, and young leaves the color of plum jelly. That plant was Cherokee Brave®. Since then, the folks at Commercial have sown seeds of Cherokee Brave® to see what else might pop up. They got a variegated form! They’re calling it Firebird™. It grows more slowly than the parent (the lack of green chlorophyll in parts of the leaves slows growth), but retains the pink-red flush in the new foliage.
How to use Firebird™ Variegated Dogwood in the landscape?
Red flower bracts with white centers appear on horizontally tiered branches in spring. The main feature of this awesome Dogwood variety is the white and green variegated foliage…as the leaves start to emerge they are tinged with red/burgundy. Firebird is spectacular all season long, so be sure to plant it front and center for all to enjoy!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
How To Plant Firebird™ Variegated Dogwood
These Dogwoods thrive in higher temperatures, but prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. Flowering Dogwoods also like more acidic soil conditions. Not all trees are perfect however, and there are a couple of common problems that occur: Anthracnose and borer. Anthracnose is a fungal disease that causes dead spots on leaves, twigs, or fruit. Borers are small insects that bore into the woody part of plants. Don’t let this discourage you - there is hope! Your best defense against these problems is proper tree care and maintenance, if your tree is under any stress (too much sun, too much or too little water) that’s when these problems will occur. However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. You get beautiful flowers in spring, fruit that attracts birds, and great fall color.
How To Water
Water weekly, or better yet, use the Bower & Branch® Water Element to deliver just the right amount of moisture to your tree throughout the growing season.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
How To Prune
On top of that, the Firebird Dogwood really does not need a lot of pruning, but if you feel it’s necessary to prune, please do so after the tree is done flowering in the spring.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
