Red Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida var. rubra

Red Flowering Dogwood is an upright, ornamental, and deciduous tree. Bold red flowers brighten your landscape in the spring.

Plant Details - Red Flowering Dogwood

Family: Cornaceae

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Water Needs: Moist

Height: 15 – 30 ft.

Spread: 15 – 30 ft.

Growth Rate: Fast

Bloom Time: Spring

Flower Color: Red

Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies

Landscape Uses and Maintenance - Red Flowering Dogwood

Red Flowerig Dogwood has bright, showy red flowers (bracts) that are very attractive and will stand out in the landscape. This is a head turner for sure!

This tree is a great option for your yard, at the edges of your garden beds, or to add plenty of curb appeal to your home. It will create shade.

Are you looking for easy care, without wanting to sacrifice high impact? This is a low maintenance plant you will be proud to have at your home.

The bark changes its color and texture over time, beginning smooth and becoming scalier and gray brown as it ages. Its flowers bloom in the spring and develop into small red berries.

This tree is very attractive to pollinators and wildlife due to its nectar-filled flowers and seeds. Birds and various small mammals will eat the seeds.

Make sure to prune off damaged, diseased, decaying, or rubbing branches from this tree. Open wounds allow fungi and other pathogens to enter your tree and cause disease. Prune in late winter. Avoid pruning this tree in the spring as this is when it blooms.

Water thoroughly from when you first plant your tree until it is well established. Make sure that you water this tree during drought especially during the hot summer months.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Did you know that the Red Flowering Dogwood flowers aren’t actually red? The true flowers are at the center of the “flower”. The “petals” are a type of modified leaf.

This tree – along with other members of the Dogwood family – is a host plant to the Cecropia silk moth, and the Spring and Summer Azure butterflies.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Spring

Bloom/Foliage Color

Red

Height at Maturity

Under 25 Feet

Care

Red Flowering Dogwood thrives in well-drained soil with regular watering, especially during dry spells. Mulch the base to keep moisture and keep weeds at bay. Trim after blooming to hold shape and clear any dead or diseased branches.

Plant Reproduction

Sugar Red Flowering Dogwood spreads via seeds and root suckers.

How to Grow and Care for Bare Root Trees

Bare root trees are shipped dormant without soil, making them lightweight, cost-effective, and easy to plant during the cool months of early spring or fall. To begin, soak the roots in a bucket of water for 4–6 hours before planting to rehydrate them. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil and ample space for the tree’s mature size.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the spread of the roots and deep enough to keep the root flare (where the roots begin to spread from the trunk) at or slightly above ground level. Create a small mound of soil in the center of the hole, spread the roots evenly over it, backfill with native soil, and gently tamp down to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting.

Keep the soil consistently moist (not soggy) during the first growing season, and apply mulch around the base—avoiding direct contact with the trunk—to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Stake the tree if necessary, and prune only to remove dead or damaged branches. With proper care, your bare root tree will establish quickly and grow strong for years to come.

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