About

This deciduous tree reaches heights of up to 15 meters, featuring a unique layered branching structure. Its glossy, oval leaves frequently shift to purple as autumn arrives. In spring, it produces flat clusters of small white flowers, which may later develop into small blue-black berries.

About the genus

Cornus includes a variety of deciduous shrubs and trees, as well as prostrate, woody perennials, some featuring vibrant young stems. The small flowers appear in compact clusters, occasionally accompanied by prominent bracts. Several species display attractive foliage in the fall.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect
South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness
H5

Plant details

Plant type
Trees
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
Higher than 12 metres
Spread
wider than 8 metres
Time to full height
More than 50 years
Suggested uses
Architectural
Native to
Himalaya, China, Japan

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. For more advice, see flowering dogwood cultivation
Pruning
Pruning group 1
Propagation
Propagate by grafting
Pest resistance
Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to horse chestnut scale
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to cornus anthracnose and honey fungus