Dogwood trees are a wonderful addition to any landscape. They all have such a wide variety of leaves and foliage that it’s hard to find the right one for your garden. Some even have bark, which is a flashy centerpiece. Dogwood trees and shrubs come in many varieties (about 50!). For Zone 5A garden climates, I would like to share some of my favorites here with you. Dogwoods not only grow throughout North America, but some species also grow in Florida and other parts of the United States. I would like to introduce you to different types of dogwood trees that you can plant to add interest to your garden.
Blooming dogwood with pink flowers
As a tree, it is one of the most beautiful with its showy pink flowers with green centers that bloom first in early spring beginning in April. The flowers are short-lived, but feature a very pretty pink stripe with lime green and yellow dots in the center.
It grows fairly slowly and can reach 25 feet tall with a spread of about 10 to 15 feet. Although these are beautiful trees, they are understory trees and grow best under large growers like maple, preferring partial shade. It also prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows best in growing zones 5-9.
We planted this dogwood tree in 2012. By 2018 that height he reached 15 feet. One of the few drawbacks of the pink-flowered dogwood The flowers are beautiful in spring, but they do not last long and die quickly in late frosts. It has an airy green color for the rest of the season and does well when mixed with other trees. These are not the best if you are looking for shade trees. It’s actually ornamental. It also likes mulch and moist, well-drained soil.
red twig dogwood
If you are looking for A fast-growing, sun-tolerant shrub, red dogwood is a great option. It has great winter interest as the older branches that go dormant in winter turn crimson, making it a great branch to hang in your winter planter when pruning. The leaves also have beautiful colors of yellow and red, further enhancing the autumn atmosphere.
They like to spread and feed their suckers, So make sure you plant it where it has room to grow, or keep it under control. In good soil it can reach heights of 6 to 9 feet. It can grow in full or partial sun and has medium green foliage. Our house is on the side of the house, and the red branches shine against the white siding, creating a nice contrast with the snow. I also don’t mind getting full southern sunshine. If you’re looking for interesting colored shrubs, this place is a great landscape option.
Old stems tend to lose color, so I prune 1/3 of the largest branches each year to keep the stem color green. Clusters of tiny white flowers bloom, which turn into small white berries that birds love, so you don’t really see them, only the remaining stems are visible.
Japanese dogwood
of Japanese dogwood A tree that I come and go. I love gorgeous, large white flowers so much, but after dealing with the Pagoda Dogwood (see paragraph below), I’m really hesitant. It can grow up to 25 feet tall and is considered one of the most troublesome dogwood trees in the fall, dropping fruit up to an inch in diameter. It also attracts many wild animals, such as squirrels and deer, who love this fruit.
pagoda dogwood
Our Padga dogwood was born as a gift from birds. One day, the hydrangea bushes in my garden began to sprout and before I knew it they were big enough to be recognized as real trees. It took about five years for it to mature when I realized what a nasty tree this tree was. In June, it is covered with white flowering branches, and when the flowers are disturbed, powdery stamens and pollen clump and fall to the ground. In midsummer, white flowers bloom and dark reddish-purple fruits are produced. Birds love to eat it and poop nearby. It is not recommended to plant near cars or houses.
That being said, it will become one of my favorite trees in the garden once the hard work is done around early August. Its beautiful lateral branching habits make it a paradise for birds and wildlife. The foliage is really interesting, creates a good amount of shade and grows fairly quickly. We have to prune seasonally. All kinds of birds gather here, and I love how they perched on the branches and chirped while we were sitting under the gazebo. It makes you feel like you are in a woodland retreat. In autumn, the leaves change color beautifully.
That said, with berries and birds, it’s easy to find saplings in the garden after the birds eat their treats. For me, getting such a beautiful tree without paying is a trade-off. The pagoda dogwood is also a native tree in our area, so we are happy to help the local ecosystem.
White dogwood, yellow twigs, yellow flowered dogwood
I haven’t added them to my garden yet, but I’m considering the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, which has white flowers and glossy red berries. As I mentioned earlier, there are many types of dogwood. Some have yellow flowers, like the pink-flowered dogwood, while others have yellow twigs and stems. It all depends on the color scheme of your landscaping. Your local nursery should have a nursery that fits your area. It also helps you choose what grows best in your garden, providing the best varieties for your growing zone. Or, if you’re lucky, a bird might plant one or two for you.
