Overview

Transform your garden into a springtime paradise with a magnificent white flowering dogwood tree. This live plant, approximately 1 foot tall, is ready to bring its iconic charm and elegance to your outdoor space. Known scientifically as Cornus florida, the white flowering dogwood is a beloved deciduous tree celebrated for its striking white bracts that emerge in early spring, often before other trees leaf out. These ‘flowers’ are actually modified leaves surrounding a cluster of tiny true flowers, creating a breathtaking display. Beyond its spring spectacle, this tree offers attractive green foliage through summer, turning to brilliant shades of red and purple in the fall, followed by glossy red berries that provide food for birds. A relatively low-maintenance tree once established, the white flowering dogwood tree is a fantastic choice for adding year-round interest and natural beauty to any landscape.

Key Benefits

The white flowering dogwood tree offers a multitude of benefits that make it a highly desirable addition to any garden or yard. Its aesthetic appeal and ecological value are unmatched:

• Stunning Spring Blooms: Enjoy an explosion of pristine white ‘flowers’ (bracts) that herald the arrival of spring, creating a dramatic focal point in your garden. These blooms are a true sign of the season’s renewal.
• Vibrant Fall Foliage: As summer wanes, the leaves transition into brilliant hues of red, purple, and burgundy, providing a spectacular autumn display that adds rich color to your landscape. This extends the tree’s visual interest well beyond its flowering period.
• Wildlife Attraction: The bright red berries that follow the flowers are a vital food source for various bird species, bringing natural life and activity to your yard. It’s a great way to support local ecosystems.
• Year-Round Interest: From its distinctive winter silhouette to its spring blooms, summer foliage, and fall colors, this tree provides visual appeal in every season. It’s a dynamic addition that constantly evolves with the year.
• Versatile Landscape Use: The live dogwood plant can be used as a specimen tree, part of a mixed border, or even in larger containers, making it adaptable to various garden designs and sizes. Its moderate size makes it suitable for many settings.
• Hardy and Resilient: Thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, this tree is known for its ability to withstand a range of climates, making it a reliable choice for many regions across the US.
• Moderate Growth Rate: While adding beauty, it typically grows at a moderate pace, allowing you to enjoy its changing forms without it quickly outgrowing its space.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your white flowering dogwood tree is relatively straightforward, ensuring it thrives and provides years of beauty. This tree prefers a site with partial shade, especially in hotter climates, where it receives morning sun and afternoon shade. In cooler regions, full sun is often tolerated if the soil remains consistently moist. Well-draining, acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.5-7.0) is crucial. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage, or sandy soils to enhance moisture retention. When planting, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Water thoroughly after planting.

Consistent moisture is key, especially during the first few growing seasons and during dry spells. Avoid overwatering, as dogwoods do not like soggy feet. A layer of mulch around the base of the tree (keeping it away from the trunk) will help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Fertilize sparingly, if at all, with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring, after the first year of establishment. Pruning is generally minimal; remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or early spring before new growth appears. Keep an eye out for common dogwood issues like powdery mildew or dogwood anthracnose, ensuring good air circulation and proper watering can help prevent these problems. Understanding proper dogwood tree care is vital for a healthy and flourishing tree.

Size & Details

This offering is for one live dogwood plant, standing approximately 1 foot tall (12 inches) from the base of the root system to the tip of the plant. It arrives ready for planting in your garden or a larger container. The tree has a moderate growth rate, typically adding 1-2 feet per year, eventually reaching a mature height of 15-25 feet with a similar spread, forming a beautiful rounded or vase-shaped canopy. It is a deciduous tree, meaning it will lose its leaves in the fall and go dormant over winter, re-emerging with new growth and blooms in the spring. The plant is well-rooted and carefully prepared for shipment to ensure a smooth transition to its new home. Expect the first significant blooms to appear within a few years of planting a dogwood tree, with increasing splendor as it matures.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get at maturity? A: This white flowering dogwood tree typically grows to a mature height of 15-25 feet with a similar spread, creating a beautiful, rounded canopy. Its moderate growth rate allows it to fit well into various landscape designs over time.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The plant arrives as a 1-foot tall live specimen, usually in a nursery pot appropriate for its size, ready for immediate transplanting into your garden or a larger container. The root ball is well-established for healthy growth.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The white flowering dogwood tree is an outdoor deciduous tree, best suited for planting directly in the ground where it can receive adequate sunlight and space to grow. It is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This tree thrives in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, partial shade (especially afternoon shade) is preferred to protect it from intense heat, while in cooler regions, it can tolerate more direct sunlight.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the live dogwood plant is considered relatively low-maintenance. Providing proper initial planting conditions, adequate water, and minimal pruning will ensure its health and vigor.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your white flowering dogwood tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey. It will be well-hydrated and ready for planting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: While young plants may not bloom in their first year after transplanting, you can generally expect to see the beautiful white blooms appear within 2-4 years as the tree establishes itself and matures.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a dogwood tree? A: The best times for planting dogwood tree are typically in the spring after the last frost or in early fall before the ground freezes. This allows the tree to establish its root system before extreme weather conditions.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, this white flowering dogwood is hardy and well-suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9, meaning it can successfully survive winter temperatures within those regions.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: As it thrives in USDA Zone 5, this dogwood can tolerate winter temperatures as low as -20°F to -10°F (-29°C to -23°C) once established.