There are very different dogwood and flower dogwood varieties in different sizes. While the yellow dogwood and the red dogwood score points primarily because of their colored wood, the attractiveness of the flower or flowering dogwood lies in their beautiful false flowers.
Which flower dogwood varieties are suitable for the garden?
Popular flower dogwood varieties for the garden are the American flower dogwood (Cornus florida), the Japanese flower dogwood (Cornus kousa) and the Chinese flower dogwood (Cornus kousa var.chinensis). They differ in flowering time, flower color and height.
Which flower dogwood is suitable for my garden?
If you want your flower dogwood to bloom profusely, then choose it to suit the location. If the soil conditions are not suitable, the flower will suffer. However, you can help a little with rhododendron fertilizer. Most varieties of flowering dogwood prefer sun or partial shade with nutrient-rich, neutral to slightly acidic soil.
The American dogwood (Cornus florida) blooms white or pink depending on the variety from around April, but only when it has reached a height of around two meters. Its foliage turns scarlet or purple in autumn, a very decorative sight. The tree grows to a height of approx. 4 – 6 m.
The Japanese flower dogwood (Latin: Cornus kousa) blooms a little later, namely from June, in shades of white or pink. Its leaves turn yellow or red in autumn, matching the “Indian Summer”. It also produces edible fruits. It is also more robust than the American dogwood and less susceptible to the dreaded leaf browning.
The Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa var. chinensis) blooms in bright white from May to July. It also shows decorative autumn colors in shades of red. With its very tight growth it reaches a height of up to five meters.
Interesting varieties of flowering dogwood:
- Cornus kousa “Beni Fuji”: bracts dark pink to red, flowering period: June to July, height: 2 – 5 m
- Hybrid “Stellar Pink”: pink bracts, flowering period: May to June, height: 5 m, cross between Cornus kousa x Cornus florida
- Cornus kousa “Milky Way”: bracts cream-colored, flowering period: May to June, height: 4 m
- Cornus kousa “Satomi”: bracts dark pink to light red, depending on the pH value of the soil, flowering period: May to June, height: 2.5 m
Tip
You can also easily cultivate a smaller variety of flower dogwood in a container or in a small garden.
