Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida
White spring bracts and red fall berries; likes a little shade at noon.
Hardiness: zones 5 to 9
Light: part shade
Size: about 25 ft tall, 25 ft wide
From: E. North America
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: wildlife, pollinators, butterfly and moth caterpillars.
Native to: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Great Lakes, Great Plains & Texas. Hardy in zones 5 to 9.
The story
Flowering dogwood lights up the edge of the eastern woods in April. The four white 'petals' are really bracts; the true flowers are the tiny yellow cluster in the middle. Its hard wood was once turned into weaving shuttles and golf-club heads.
Planting
Morning sun with afternoon shade, and moist, acid, well-drained soil. Mulch wide; the roots are shallow.
Growing
Water in dry summers. Don't nick the bark with a mower: wounds let borers in.
Harvest and use
Spring bloom, red-purple fall leaves, and glossy red berries, high in fat, that migrating birds strip in days.
What to watch for
Anthracnose in cool, damp shade. Good air flow and a little sun help.
See if Flowering dogwood fits your yard
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home