Why the White Flowering Dogwood?
This is a tree you’ll want to have right outside your window! Flowering Dogwood puts on several performances throughout the year, and you’ll want a front-row seat for all of them. In spring, big blossoms crowd the branches like flocks of white butterflies. In early fall, the foliage turns smoldering shades of purple and red. But from late summer until well into winter, that’s when the real show happens if you’re a fan of backyard birds. Bluebirds, robins, cardinals, Cedar Waxwings, grosbeaks, mockingbirds, and Blue Jays are some of the many birds that come to feast on Flowering Dogwood’s glossy red fruits.
Arguably the most spectacular of our country’s flowering trees, Flowering Dogwood is a national treasure. All who encounter it can’t help but fall in love with it! It is the state tree of Virginia and Missouri and the state flower of North Carolina. Thomas Jefferson was a fan, and he planted many specimens at Monticello, as did George Washington at Mt. Vernon. In those days, Flowering Dogwood was valued not only for its beauty but also for the supposed efficacy of its bark and roots in a treatment for malaria. Its native range extends from Massachusetts to Florida and west to southern Michigan and East Texas.
How to use in the landscape?
Like so many of our native plants, Flowering Dogwood is a host to many caterpillars and other insects that our local songbirds depend on for nourishment. Bugs are not all bad! Even before the fruits are present, Flowering Dogwood will attract birds to your yard who are looking for a meal.
Why Bower & Branch?
At Bower & Branch, it’s our job to know and grow trees… especially big trees.
- Trusted, Experienced Growers
- Trusted, Knowledgeable Expertise
- Trusted Brand of Quality Trees Across the United States
We do the hard part. Our trees and plants are grown and cared for by only the best, local growers for years before they find their forever home in your landscape. Bower & Branch is known for having hard-to-find, substantial sizes and selection. The quality of our trees and plants are consistent in health and vigor—always ready for immediate impact in your garden and instant curb appeal. We never rush our trees to reach a ‘grade size.’ Our trees are grown for quality height, vigor, health and age.
We believe in empowering homeowners with the truth about strong, healthy and structurally sound plants that are grown to perform in the ground after they leave the nursery for home delivery, always fresh inventory from the grower.
How To Plant
Flowering Dogwoods are vulnerable to a few troublesome pests and diseases, including anthracnose, borers, and powdery mildew. However, proper siting and culture will give your tree a good chance for a long, healthy life. Site your tree in an area with morning sun and good air circulation, and don’t use overhead sprinklers. Be careful to never gouge the bark, as wounds can create an entry point for pests or disease, and prune out any dead branches and dispose of them—do not compost them. Check out our Homeowner’s Guide to Dogwood Diseases and Care for more details, and please do not hesitate to talk to us directly at grower@bowerandbranch.com about any other questions you have concerning Dogwood care.
How To Water
Water regularly after initial planting. Once established, they are more tolerant of drought conditions, reducing your hand-watering responsibilities.
How To Fertilize
Dogwoods like fertilizer! During fall, feed your Dogwood Bower & Branch Elements Fertilizer once a year for about the first 3 or 4 years - this will give your tree all the nutrients it needs.
How To Prune
As your tree grows, you’ll probably want to remove the lowermost branches to show off that amazing jigsaw-puzzle bark! Pruning is best done shortly after the flowers are spent.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
