Dogwoods are small trees or larger shrubs with high ornamental value for the home garden. There are numerous species and varieties, of which we would like to introduce you to some of the most beautiful ones here.
What types of dogwood are there?
Popular dogwood varieties include red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), white dogwood (Cornus alba), Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa), cornelian cherry (Cornus officinalis), yellow dogwood (Cornus mas), pagoda dogwood (Cornus controversa), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and carpet dogwood (Cornus canadensis). They differ in flower color, autumn color, growth habit and fruit type.
Red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
The lush white flower umbels appear between May and June. In autumn, the foliage of this hornbush species turns bright red, which creates a nice contrast to the black-blue, small stone fruits. By the way, the variety 'Midwinter Fire' shows a particularly interesting autumnal color play.
White dogwood (Cornus alba)
Between May and July, the white dogwood - sometimes called Tatarian dogwood - displays its pretty, creamy white flowers. Depending on the variety, the fruits can be white to bluish in color. The broad, upright growing shrub turns its otherwise green foliage yellow to red in autumn.
Some beautiful varieties of White Dogwood
| Variety | Leaf | Autumn Coloring | Growth height | Growth width | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spaethii | yellow variegated | yellow to red-orange | up to 300 cm | up to 250 cm | reddish wood in winter |
| Kesselringii | dark green | red | up to 400 cm | up to 400 cm | blackish shoots, white fruits |
| Sibirica Variegata | green with white border | yellow to red | up to 200 cm | up to 170 cm | strong red bark |
| Elegantissima | greenwhite | carmine red | up to 300 cm | up to 200 cm | red bark in winter |
| Sibirica | green | bright red | up to 300 cm | up to 200 cm | red wood in winter |
Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa)
Japanese flower dogwood is cultivated primarily because of its distinctive flower decorations. The actual flowers are quite inconspicuous, but are surrounded by four large, white bracts and are therefore very noticeable. The strawberry-like fruits are pinkish-red in color.
Cornelian cherry (Cornus officinalis)
The bright yellow flowers of the Japanese cornelian cherry appear very early in the year. The striking flower umbels appear as early as March / April, with the strong autumn colors of the rather slender and narrow tree also being a real eye-catcher.
Yellow dogwood (Cornus mas)
This dogwood also impresses with its bright yellow flowers, which appear before the leaves emerge between March and April. The yellow dogwood is a native species of cornelian cherry.
Pagoda dogwood (Cornus controversa)
The pagoda or tiered dogwood is particularly noticeable because of its pyramid-shaped growth.
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
Similar to the Japanese dogwood, the American dogwood also delights with its very large, beautiful white flowers.
Carpet Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
In contrast to the other dogwoods, this species is not a tree or shrub, but rather a ground cover - which, however, has the flowers and autumn colors typical of this group of plants.
Tip
So-called flower dogwoods are particularly exotic in this country, including the Japanese dogwood as well as the Chinese dogwood and the American flowering dogwood.
