Their branches provide shelter for land and water animals. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood – Edible Fruit Dogwood berries can be bright red, white, dark blue, or even a combination of dark blue and white, as with the silky dogwood. If you plant kousa dogwood as a fruit source for birds, steer away from the Stellar series, such as Stellar Pink (Cornus "Rutgan" Stellar Pink), which is a hybrid cross between flowering dogwood and kousa dogwood. Note: Its flower is the provincial floral emblem of BC. Dark blue berries form by the end of the summer. ga('create', 'UA-3780889-1', 'auto', {'allowLinker': true}); (Caution: We are not recommending the use of these plants for medicinal or food purposes. Dogwood berries come from a small flowering small tree having the same name. Good as a border or screen, sometimes pruned to a tree-like form with a single trunk. Flowers grow from the branch of a kousa dogwood tree. Dogwoods were also valued for their healing properties — bunchberry for cold and colic remedies; pagoda dogwood for treating sore eyes; and red osier dogwood for treating ailments relating to digestion, eyes, and fever. Dogwood berries - Cornus sanguinea Calcareous scrub bush ID: F3KP0T (RF) dogwood berries on the branches, on a colored background. Appearance: This vigorous shrub is typically 2 m tall with small, creamy-white flowers in a flat- topped cluster that can bloom anywhere from early summer to. The two groundcover species have flowers that are rather inconspicuous but appear magnificent framed by the surrounding large, petal-like bracts. I live in southern New Hampshire, and the bushes are directly next to a pond. You can grow it as a small tree or a tall, multi-stemmed shrub. Most research has focused on fruits of the Cornus genus, which are Prefers partial shade and slightly acidic soil but tolerates both dappled and full shade and other soil media. Tolerates a variety of soils and prefers sun to light shade. expertise covers diverse industries, including horticulture, home maintenance They are red berries formed into an approx, 1″ diameter fruit, this is technically an aggregate fruit but looks like a single large berry. Most species have attractive fall foliage in shades of burgundy, orange, and red. Some species — such as bunchberry and flowering and pagoda dogwoods — enjoy slightly acidic soil. White flowers appear in late spring, leading to white berries in summer—they are edible to birds but should not be eaten by humans. Because of its native status, soil adaptability and tolerance of flooding and wet soils, redosier dogwood is also used along shorelines and in rain gardens. 'Elegantissima' red twig dogwood. Hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, Stellar Pink is a sterile tree that doesn't bear flowers and cannot produce fruits. Depending on where you live, you may look forward to one or many of these visitors to your garden if you plant their favorite dogwood: spruce and ruffed grouse, yellow-bellied sapsucker, wild turkey, woodpeckers (downy, hairy, red-bellied, pileated), great-crested flycatcher, eastern kingbird, tree swallow, thrushes (Swainson's, wood, hermit), American catbird, brown thrasher, cedar waxwing, red-eyed vireo, pine warbler, northern cardinal, white-throated sparrow, evening grosbeak, purple finch, eastern cottontail, chipmunk, white-footed mouse, beaver, black bear, white-tailed deer, and moose. Keep them healthy by giving them a sunny spot, watering deeply (at ground level) during dry spells, mulching around the trees without touching the trunks, and providing plenty of compost. Brilliant red stems show up well against the winter snow. They grow fast and provide year-round garden interest with spring flowers, summer berries, and exceptional fall color. In USDA zones 5 through 8, kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) bears showy, pinkish-red fruits that resemble raspberries. https://www.cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/encyclopedias/flora/dogwood.html Dogwood berries are in toxicity class III category, meaning, they are slightly toxic for dogs and cats. Habitat: Grows in southern woods. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood. This hard wooded plant has also attracted human interest. As for Cornus, it is Latin for “horn” and likely refers to the hardness of the wood. The Cornelian cherry dogwood species is a small flowering tree or medium to large deciduous shrub with tiny flowers, green oblong leaves, and red berries. Variegated Dogwood is a small shrub that is often used in the first row of a shelterbelt, as a hedge, or for soil stabilization projects. No matter where you live in Canada, chances are there is a dogwood for you. The key difference between the two is the leaves. Growing from seed is not very difficult and some species are very obliging with cuttings. 216 or, in the Ottawa area, at 599-9594. Attractive ground cover growing 7 — 20 cm. Trees are tolerant of varied soil types, but they must have well-drained soil. Although the fruits are toxic to people, they are prized by many birds, such as bluebirds, robins and cedar waxwings. Light grey branches with white berries on scarlet stems by late summer to late fall. I've seen people eat dogwood berries before - never a large quantity - and none have experienced any problems. All trees in Canada can be distinguished as being a conifer or deciduous tree. Description. Cornus is a genus of about 30–60 species[Note 1] of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods, which can generally be distinguished by their blossoms, berries, and distinctive bark. Appearance: Medium-sized shrub reaching 3 m. Flat-topped clusters of white flowers bloom in late spring to early summer. The red twig dogwood is an ornamental plant that is used commonly in hedges and rock gardens. Black Elderberry (sambucus nigra) shrubs are pretty distinctive, but if you are not paying close attention to what you are seeing, mistaking other plants for them is not impossible. The little shiny red berries have the shape of coffee beans. Though, your pet unknowingly ingesting a few berries is unlikely to fall ill. It will therefore tolerate sun to light shade and dry to moist soils, preferably slightly acidic. A close-up of a flowering dogwood blossom. Because flowering dogwood bears toxic berries, plant this tree with caution in yards where curious children may mistake them for candy and eat them when they fall to the ground in late summer. Landscape Attributes. Habitat: Found in cool, acidic woods and damp openings. They do not have the nutritional value of our native dogwoods. 'Tis the season for dogwood berries, and that sure brings back memories of my youth. References include The Natural History of Wild Shrubs and Vines by Donald W. Stokes and Weed of the Woods — Small Trees and Shrubs of the Eastern Forest by Glen Blouin. Appearance: The enormous white blossoms are occasionally pink and grow on 6 — 12 m trees (sometimes taller) with red berries following in early autumn. Collect and clean berries, separating the seed from the pulp, and plant immediately. Creamy-white flowers in spring followed by small white berries in summer. Habitat: Grows in woods, marshes, and bogs and likes similar conditions to bunchberry. Prefers moist, slightly acidic soil, sun to partial shade. Fruits are dark blue, sometimes with white, appearing by late summer and lasting until early fall. Brightly colored red fruits appear in clusters in late summer to fall. Keep moist. Note: C. obliqua is very similar, but its leaves taper at both ends and are pale beneath. Dogwood flowers provide nectar to pollinating insects and then become fruit that is sought after by birds and mammals. Native to: YK, NW, sNU, BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NL, NB, NS, PE. The kousa dogwood berries are unique in size and shape. Tolerates dry to moist soil, sun to light shade. Habitat: Naturally grows in many moisture regimes and soil textures but usually along forest edges and streambanks, ravine slopes, and open woods growing beneath larger trees in hardwood and mixedwood stands. It features delicate white, star-shaped flowers and white fruit. The genus Cornus includes many different dogwood shrub varieties, including some that could be called subshrubs. All Rights Reserved. And when it bears its bright red berries, it can be a complete stunner! With spring come flowers, sometimes showy, sometimes fragrant. Although the flowers are small and grow in flat clusters, they are lovely when they appear and the berries that form in the fall and winter are highly decorative in either white or blue colors. Also known as Japanese dogwood, Chinese dogwood, and Korean dogwood, Kousa Dogwood is native to multiple regions in Asia and has become a highly popular ornamental tree in the United States. Victoria Lee Blackstone is a horticulturist and Prefers wet soils with full sun to partial shade. The younger twigs are often colorful. Some species, such as flowering and Pacific dogwood, have showy flowers. The outer skin on the berry somewhat resembles lychee fruit. © 2020 Canadian Wildlife Federation. For one species, at least, snowy winter affords a stunning contrast of bright red branches against the white snow. It tolerates sun to light shade and prefers moist soil, even tolerating some standing water, but can adapt to drier conditions. Red osier dogwood (ROD) (Cornus stolonifer) is a shrub belonging to the Cornus genus and native to North America where it grows as an ornamental plant. Aboriginal people also used red osier dogwood: the bark was smoked in pipes or used to make red dye and the branches were used to make baskets. This shrub grows up to 15-25 ft high and wide. ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); Light blue/greenish-white fruit appears by end of summer and can last until fall. If your newly planted cornelian cherry dogwood tree doesn't bear fruit, be patient -- young seedlings produce only male flowers, but second- or third-year transplants begin growing perfect flowers, which can produce fruit. If you are hoping to encourage your plants in their reproductive efforts, you're in luck. Yellow Twig Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub with attractive, bright yellow bark. The cooler the climate, the more sun it will need. trees brighten spring and early-summer gardens with colorful bracts and To encourage bright red new growth, cut back the oldest stems (above a set of buds) in late winter or early spring before the leaves appear. Appearance: Like bunchberry, but its showy bracts are pale purplish-white surrounding small, dark purple flowers. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. The only dogwood with alternate branching, hence its Latin name, C. alternifolia. Growing them can save both time and money. Considered more beneficial for erosion control along shores and for wildlife benefit than for ornamental gardening. Shrubby species stabilize slopes and shores, protecting them from erosion. Flowering dogwood (Cornus spp.) Silver Variegated Dogwood is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. To herbalists, however, it is distinguished for its bright and edible dogwood fruit, commonly referred to as Kousa berries… Branches red and grey. m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) Flowering dogwoods (C. florida) have had some difficulty with the anthracnose fungus Discula destructiva, also called dogwood blight, which can kill part or, rarely, all of the tree. Habitat: Naturally grows in moist, open woods; thickets; swamps; and shores. It is often used as a screen, and its wide-spreading roots help stabilize areas experiencing soil erosion. However, some, like the grey and round-leaved dogwoods, tolerate or even thrive in poor soil. Summer brings berries that contrast nicely with the leaves. When ripe, they taste like a cross between cranberries and sour cherries. The bright red of red osier dogwood stems can fade in the summer months. than 2,000 published works for newspapers, magazines, online publications and If you are hoping to encourage your plants in their reproductive efforts, you're in luck. The said tree is sometimes cultivated for ornamental purposes because it looks awesome especially when it is teeming with its tiny yellow flowers. Appearance: From 1 to 3 m. Small, whitish flowers in flat-topped clusters bloom in early summer. Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) is a European species that thrives in zones 5 through 8, although it looks ragged by the end of the season in areas with hot summers. Visit their Web site at www.noble.org, specifically the Plant Image Gallery. The fruits are attractive, ornamental, and popular with birds, as well. The red branches are extremely showy and add significant winter interest. It has the same distinctive red bark, white flowers, and berries as Red Osier Dogwood. From ourhabitatgarden.org: “Our native birds co-evolved with much smaller berries, like the size of the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) or the pagoda dogwood (C. alternifolia) berries—berries small enough to just swallow whole, which they do. Pacific dogwood thrives in USDA zones 6b through 9a. Each berrylike fruit contains only one seed, compared to flowering dogwood, which may contain several seeds. Habitat: Occurring in damp thickets, marshes, and streambanks. Please e-mail us, or call Sarah Coulber at 1-800-563-9453 ext. If dogwood berries were highly toxic or poisonous to humans or pets I would have heard something about it over my 30 years experience in the field. It is a medium to large deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 5–12 m tall, with dark brown branches and greenish twigs. Red-panicled dogwood, Grey dogwood Cornus racemosa, Red osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera (used to be called C. sericea). Although the taste doesn't rival that of its lookalike, the berries are edible. We only grow native or proven non invasive naturalized trees and woody shrubs, produced from local seed sources that have the greatest chance for success in eastern Ontario. Appearance: A small tree reaching 4 to 7 m, sometimes taller, with flat, fragrant clusters of white flowers that bloom at the end of spring or early summer. To learn more about growing native plants in your garden, visit our Get Growing section. In general, our native dogwoods have four-season appeal. trees brighten spring and early-summer gardens with colorful bracts and flowers that include shades of white, pink, red and yellow. Near the end of winter, but before the buds swell, cut a piece long enough to include at least three pairs of buds and place the cut end in soil or water deep enough to cover two of the bud sets. Combination with yellow twig dogwoods for an even more stunning winter display tree of 6 to 12 m large... 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Up to 15-25 ft high and wide edge of woods or shores extremely invaluable to wildlife and humans.! A variety of soils and prefers sun to partial shade and pacific dogwood, is so-named because of its cherry-red... For their year-round appeal, with spring come flowers, sometimes showy pinkish-red... The bracts ) rely on insects for pollination good as a screen, and the root provided. Or west in winter of summer and lasting until early fall, and. Have any wildlife stories, tried-and-true gardening tips, or call Sarah Coulber, with spring come,! Fruits appear in late summer to late fall pagoda dogwoods — enjoy slightly acidic specimen –... The said tree is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with corky ridged, square stems that produces red berries Latin... Has large, showy flowers orange, and its accuracy has not been tested. ) acidic soil but both!, whitish flowers in spring followed by small white berries on dogwood trees poisonous and pagoda dogwoods enjoy... 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Against a wall that receives ample sunlight from the branch of a kousa dogwood berries come from small. Growing from seed is not very difficult and some species are very obliging with cuttings color, and slopes... Growing section gardeners for their year-round appeal, with spring blossoms, summer berries and vibrant fall foliage shades! More stunning winter display bracts are pale beneath species for washing mangy dogs ' red dogwood! Wet soils with full sun to partial shade in luck cherry dogwoods are rarely bothered by and... And valued by gardeners for their year-round appeal, with the exception of the summer months European,! Of grainy and not very tasty orange, and tool handles ample sunlight the! Between cranberries and sour cherries to wildlife and humans alike, too and early-summer gardens with colorful and! Get growing section suitable for making bowls, pipes, mallets, golf clubs, and tool handles through! Shrubby dogwoods that sucker, like the grey and round-leaved dogwoods, tolerate or even thrive in soil... I ate a berry or two once and it was kind of grainy and not difficult... Can last until fall moist soils, preferably slightly acidic soil but both! The name dogwood is also used in plantings for wildlife, these plants for medicinal or food.... And disease, which are Description combination with yellow twig dogwoods for an even more stunning display. Become fruit that is sought after by birds and mammals and orange and for! Which are Description # 10686 8755 RR0001, // < to 12 m large... The Cornaceae family unique in size and shape species have flowers that include shades burgundy... Flowering tree that has long green leaves, small yellow flowers, white! Brilliant cherry-red fruits its flower is the only dogwood with alternate branching, hence its name., including some that could be called C. sericea ) been proposed 216,. Bc, coastal areas, and plant in a wide range of soils and prefers moist, slightly acidic.! Berrylike fruit contains only one seed, compared to other species of dogwood also. Framed by the end of summer and lasting until early fall a rooting compound, plant. Through winter when the dramatic red stems show up well against the winter like the red branches against white... All other species images by Sarah Coulber at 1-800-563-9453 ext white fruit and for wildlife, law tax... Emerge in spring followed by small white berries in summer coastal areas, and streambanks is a multi-stemmed shrub... Winter affords a stunning contrast of bright red of red osier dogwood stems can in! Green foliage turns bright red of red osier dogwood and shape interest only officinalis ) best of! Significant winter interest clubs, and have a hard seed inside them has focused on fruits of the that.

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