Pretty white or pink flowers in spring, an equally attractive fruit decoration as well as bright foliage color in autumn and lush growth: dogwoods (bot. Cornus) are an important and robust genus of woody plants for the garden. The selection is huge with around 50 different species, their varieties and hybrids.
Which types of dogwood are suitable for the garden?
Dogwoods (Cornus) are attractive trees for the garden that are diverse in shape, flowers and fruits. They are mostly deciduous, robust and hardy. They are suitable as a stand-alone plant, hedge planting or ground cover. Particularly popular are American, Chinese and Japanese flowering dogwood, cornelian cherry and red dogwood.
Origin
The various Cornus species belong to the dogwood family (Cornaceae) and are primarily found in the temperate but also subtropical climate zones of the world. The red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) are native to Germany. On the other hand, the fascinating flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida, Cornus kousa, etc.) come from Asia and the USA, which impress with both their beautiful flower decorations and raspberry-like, edible fruits.
Usage
The different Cornus species are suitable for different uses depending on their specific growth habit. Flower dogwoods, for example, should be planted in individual positions if possible, as they develop sprawling crowns over time and need a lot of space. They fit perfectly into Japanese or other Asian-style gardens and are very suitable as a companion to rhododendrons.
Other species can also be used wonderfully for hedge planting, especially the white and red dogwood and the cornelian cherry are often used as a bird protection hedge or as a design element in a natural garden. The Canadian or carpet dogwood in particular thrives as a ground cover under rhododendrons and other trees.
Appearance and growth
These are mainly larger shrubs or small trees that, depending on the species, reach heights of between three and six meters. Perennial, herbaceous plants are less common among the various species, and most dogwood plants are deciduous. However, there are also some evergreen varieties, which are of little importance in the garden.
Flowers and flowering time
The numerous Cornus species also differ in terms of flower shapes. Many develop an ovary each with four sepals and petals, while some - like the flower dogwood - only have a very inconspicuous flower, but have large bracts. White and pink flowering varieties predominate, with the Cornelian cherry, for example, having yellow flowers and the Swedish dogwood (Cornus suecica) also having purple flowers. Flowering time is usually in spring, with the native species often showing their splendor as early as March, while the American and Asian forms appear much later. In autumn you often see beautifully colored drupes, which can be red, black or white and in some species are even edible.
Location and soil
The native dogwoods are mostly very robust, adaptable trees that do well in almost any location. The cornelian cherry, but also the white and red dogwood, prefer a location that is as sunny as possible on fresh, humus-rich loamy soil, but can also be cultivated in the shade. Flowering dogwoods, on the other hand, are a little more demanding: they are best planted in permeable, sandy, fresh soil rich in humus and nutrients. These species feel most comfortable in shady, humid and protected locations.
Cut cornus correctly
With the exception of most flowering dogwoods, many species are very tolerant of pruning. In particular, the white and yellowwood dogwood should be “put on the stick” regularly in the spring, i.e. H. be heavily pruned. Species such as Cornus florida and Cornus kousa, on the other hand, should not be pruned at all if possible.
Propagate Cornus
Again, with the exception of flower dogwoods, almost all Cornus species can be propagated very well via cuttings, cuttings and sowing. You can also use rooted ground shoots as offshoots. The different varieties of flowering dogwoods, on the other hand, are usually propagated through grafting.
Tip
Dogwood plants are generally very robust and are rarely attacked by pests and diseases. The American flower dogwood (Cornus florida) in particular is threatened by the so-called anthracnose in unfavorable, hot locations. This is a fungal disease that is difficult to treat and initially appears as dark leaf spots.
Species and varieties
About 50 different species of dogwood are known, many of which can also be cultivated in the home garden. Some of these are wild forms (for example the native cornelian cherry, Cornus mas) as well as numerous cultivated forms. We have summarized the most beautiful trees for small and large gardens for you here.
American flower dogwood (Cornus florida)
In its natural environment, this popular flowering tree reaches heights of up to twelve meters, but in our case it remains significantly smaller with an average of around six meters and a growth width of up to three meters. The species grows as a small tree or shrub and is particularly impressive because of its lush, particularly large flowers with a diameter of up to nine centimeters. The dull green leaf color changes into a magnificent red-purple to scarlet autumn color.
Beautiful varieties for the garden
- 'Cherokee Chief': broad bushy, slow growth, pink, very lush flowers
- ‘Cloud Nine’: broad bushy shrub, numerous white, spherical flowers
- 'Daniela': bushy growth, green-yellow variegated foliage, striking autumn color, white flowers
- 'Eve Pride': sprawling growth, semi-double white flowers, red autumn color
- 'Green Glow': loosely branched, small tree with plate-shaped, white flowers
- 'Pumpkin Patch': large shrub, slow growing, plate-shaped, white flowers, variegated foliage
- ‘Rainbow’: broad, bushy, slow growth, large, white flowers
- 'Royal Red': upright growth, well branched, red flowers and fruits
- 'Rubra': broad bushy growth, pink flowers, scarlet autumn color
Chinese flower dogwood (Cornus kousa var. chinensis)
This variant of Cornus kousa grows more vigorously than the Japanese flowering dogwood and is overall more robust than the American flowering dogwood. The small trees or bushes bloom in white or soft pink in late spring. In autumn, the Chinese flower dogwood is covered with numerous fruits reminiscent of raspberries. These are edible and have an aromatic taste.
Beautiful varieties for the garden
- ‘Barmstedt’: snow-white flowers, red fruits, strong red autumn colors
- 'Claudia': cup-shaped, white flowers, reddish autumn color
- 'Milky Way': large, cream-colored flowers, floriferous
- ‘National’: large, white flowers, red fruits
- 'Butterfly': pure white, pink flowers, floriferous, purple autumn color
- 'Teutonia': large, white flowers, large fruits, red-violet autumn color
- ‘White Fontaine’: greenish to cream-colored flowers, floriferous
- 'Wieting's Select': white to pink striped flowers, floriferous, dark red fruits, purple autumn color
Yellow dogwood (Cornus mas)
This large shrub often forms several trunks and sparse branching and reaches a height of up to five meters. The numerous yellow flowers that adorn the cornelian cherry between March and April are particularly pretty. By autumn, fruits similar to cherries develop, which are edible and have a high vitamin C content. They are ideal for making jellies, jams or even liqueurs.
Yellowwood dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea')
This species grows upright, densely bushy and develops numerous shoots that can reach a total height of up to three meters. The yellowish-white flowers appear in May and the white fruits appear in autumn. Although these are not poisonous, they are inedible. The light to yellow-green colored bark is particularly striking and is particularly eye-catching in winter.
Japanese flower dogwood (Cornus kousa)
This Cornus species, native to Japan and Korea, grows as a small tree, develops a short trunk and can grow up to six meters high. The species is attractive at any time of the year, but particularly attracts attention during the flowering period between June and July. During this time the large, creamy white to pink flowers appear. In autumn you pick the raspberry-like, red to pink fruits, which can be made into jellies or jams.
Beautiful varieties for the garden
The Japanese flower dogwood is particularly rich in different cultivated forms, which, however, only differ marginally.
- 'Big Apple': apple green, later cream-colored flowers, large fruits
- 'Bonfire': tiered growth, yellow-green foliage, creamy white flowers
- ‘Bultinck’s Giant Flower’: particularly large, white flowers, compact growth
- ‘Cherokee’: red-purple autumn color, cream-colored flowers
- 'China Dawn': tiered growth, white flowers, strong autumn colors
- ‘Eurostar’: cream-colored flowers, beautiful autumn colors
- ‘Goldstar’: yellow foliage, white flowers
- 'Lady of the Cross': flowers arranged in a frame, crosswise, very decorative
- 'Peve Foggy': greenish to cream-colored flowers, white-edged leaves
- 'Pink Lips': striking, colorful foliage, strong autumn colors, pink flowers
- ‘Snowflake’: pure white flowers, beautiful autumn color
- ‘Trinity Star’: variegated foliage, white flowers
Japanese cornelian cherry (Cornus officinalis)
The Japanese cornelian cherry is a deciduous tree and is particularly suitable for a solitary position. The small tree reaches heights of up to seven meters and can be up to three meters wide. The bright yellow flowers appear between March and April, the bright red stone fruits are edible and can be easily processed into jams, jellies and the like.
Pagoda dogwood (Cornus controversa)
This large shrub is found growing wild in large numbers in East Asia, especially in northern India, Nepal, China, Japan and Korea, and thrives primarily in the light shade of large trees. The pagoda-like growth is striking, as is the distinctive blue-green foliage. The tree can grow up to eight meters high and up to five meters wide, so it needs a lot of space.
Red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
This very robust native shrub, which grows up to five meters high, has its name for a reason: not only does the green leaves turn bright red in autumn, the young shoots also turn a striking red color during the winter months Color. From May onwards, the white flowers arranged in umbels appear. The black-purple, berry-like fruits are slightly poisonous and not suitable for consumption.
Carpet Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
The carpet dogwood, also known as the Canadian dogwood, is neither a tree nor a shrub, but a ground cover that grows to a maximum height of 20 centimeters. The pretty, cream-colored flowers appear from the end of May, and in autumn the tree is decorated with pea-sized, red fruits.
Dwarf dogwood (Cornus stolonifera 'Kelsey')
The dwarf dogwood, which only grows to around 75 centimeters high and up to 150 centimeters wide, is particularly suitable as a ground cover and looks particularly good in heather gardens. Flowers and fruits appear rather inconspicuous, but the green to bright red wood shines even more. In autumn, the fresh green foliage takes on an orange to purple tint.