Though, some dogwood species feature leaves that alternate on the stem instead. The plant generally does best in moist conditions but can also have excellent tolerance for drier conditions once established. Left to right: Fruits of Cornus mas, C. alba 'Sibirica', C. kousa, and C. sanguinea) Dogwoods trees produce berry-like fruit in various colors, shapes and sizes. These berries vary in color from red to pink and orange, and they dangle solo rather than in groups or clusters like many other types of dogwood berries. It is also slightly hardier than the Flowering dogwood. The Cornus (dogwood) genus includes a wonderful array of trees and shrubs. Common Dogwood 4. Canadian Bunchberry 3. Dogwood trees and shrubs (Cornus spp.) The leaves on the dogwood are ovate-shaped, measuring 3 to 6 (7.5 15 cm) long. Native range: Eastern North America. The first difference you will notice is that the leaves appear before the flowers, and the tree flowers a couple of weeks later than the flowering dogwood. The most common dogwood tree with red berries is the kousa dogwood. This medium-sized shrub, also known as red osier dogwood, will stand out in your landscape with stems that start turning red at the end of summer or the beginning of fall. Hard, white berries start to sprout in the summer, and the fall foliage is a purplish-red color. Birds and other wildlife can safely eat these berries, but they are deadly to humans. However, there is considerable debate on whether dogwood berries should be reclassified. Dogwoods are commonly used as both flowering shrubs and trees in a landscape. These stems will become green again the following spring. Himalayan Dogwood 8. Poisonous flowering dogwood red berries look different from kousa dogwood berries. This type of Dogwood is commonly found in parks and various residential areas, and it works great as a shade tree or for hedging. The flowers persist through spring until early summer. Nonpoisonous Berries. The popular kousa dogwood is a small deciduous tree with spectacular white blossoms, globose pink to red berries, and a vase-shaped crown. Also known as Chinese dogwood, Korean dogwood, or Japanese dogwood, the kousa dogwood is another popular variety. In most cases, they are edible and can be used in cooking, though some dogwoods produce mildly toxic fruit to humans. The berries are also eaten by mammals, including squirrels, and the seeds have even been found in bear scat. Silky Dogwood 16. Wild animals, such as small birds, use the thickets for nesting and cover since it grows from root sprouts. In the Midwest, this is a hardier substitute for the acid-loving flowering dogwood. Spot anthracnose, septoria leaf spot, and powdery mildew are all common conditions that may affect the leaves of dogwoods. The red berries on flowering dogwood trees are not edible but have a bitter, terrible taste. The small fruits are bright orange or red. Symptoms of solanine poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and burning of the throat; these symptoms can take up to 19 hours to manifest. The white flowers give way to red fruits in late summer, which are edible for humans. The bark on Cornelian cherry dogwoods is brownish, developing a rough, flaky texture, resulting in the trees shaggy appearance. Cornelian cherry dogwood trees grow 16 to 40 ft. (5 12 m) tall and have a dense growth habit. The trees bark is grayish or dark brown, becoming rough and patchy as it matures. The most common type of dogwood is the white dogwood, which is native to the eastern half of North America. It is possible to tell the difference between edible red kousa dogwood berries and those from the Cornelian cherry and flowering dogwood species. Newly planted dogwood trees will benefit from the moist soil during these two seasons. The berry stems are a vivid shade of red, which adds a nice contrast against the green leaves. This plant provides four seasons of interest, with white flowers blooming in spring before the foliage emerges. Pruning is mostly for aesthetic reasons to reshape the tree and to remove dead branches. Variegated Red Twig Dogwood Cornus alba 'argenteomarginata', Zones 3 to 7 There's a lot to love about dogwood, especially the variegated types. The rough leaf dogwood produces flat-topped clusters of cream-colored flowers in the spring. Let's dive in! Dogwood berries, with their high mineral concentration, are also great restoratives. As a member of the Swida subspecies, the fruit that the common Dogwood produces should not be consumed by humans. It isnt considered a tree but rather a surculose shrub. Kousa Dogwood 9. The clusters of shiny berries can remain on the tree for several months, unless they are ravished by birds. Many consider it to be the western version of the Flowering Dogwood. This dogwood species is regarded as a tree with a medium growth rate and grows about 16 ft. (5 m) in ten years. Anthracnose Diseases of Dogwood. Silky and red osier dogwoods are especially tolerant of consistently moist soil. Red kousa dogwood berries are round and bumpy not smooth and oblong and dont have shiny skin. Dogwood is used to treat headaches, weariness, fever, and diarrhea that wont go away. Dogwoods can be identified by their smooth-edged leaves, with veins that are parallel to the margins (edges). Though, when pruned correctly, it can serve as a small tree. Dogwood Diseases and Insect Pests. In addition, the berries have a thick rind with a bitter taste. To grow this plant as a tree, remove suckers as they appear. Red Osier Dogwood 13. Walter's Dogwood While this dogwoods fruit isnt suitable for humans, upland game birds and songbirds love it. This may be a tree to avoid planting near the sidewalk or porch. The native flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) produces shiny oval inedible berries growing in small clusters. This is another type of Dogwood that does particularly well in shadier areas, though you can enjoy more blooms and berries if you decide to plant it in a location that receives full direct sunlight. The tiny yellow flowers bloom in late March or early April. Kousa dogwood trees grow 15 30 ft. (4 9 m) tall and wide. This type of Dogwood tends to grow slightly taller than the flowering Dogwood approximately 82 feet. Most dogwood trees have white, star-shaped flowers, lance-shaped leaves, and peeling bark. Cockspur hawthorn ( Crataegus crus-galli ) has abundant thorns as long as 3 inches that can inflict serious injury. Towards the end of the year, the leaves turn a stunning shade of crimson to purple, giving it another outstanding quality. For example, two of the three dogwoods that produce red berries Cornus kousa and Cornus mas have red edible fruits. Dogwood tree bark is scaly. The pagoda dogwood is typically a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub, although, with proper pruning, it can take on the form of a small tree. Common name: dogwood Scientific name: Cornus sanguinea Family: Cornaceae Origin: native Dogwood is a small broadleaf shrub, typically found growing along woodland edges and in hedgerows of southern England. 01 of 12 Canadian Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Images The Canadian bunchberry (also known simply as bunchberry or dwarf cornel) is one of two subshrubs in this group. Those in full sun are shorter with better leaf color, especially in the fall. Shop at our Thrive Life food store. Dogwood roots are used to make red, yellow, and black colors by boiling them. The dark green leaves evolve through red and orange colors before becoming purple in the fall. Species of relatively deer-resistant dogwood include Kousa Dogwood, Red Osier Dogwood, and Red Twigged Dogwood. Dogwood berries are an edible fruit. This is a spectacular small tree or medium shrub which blooms very early in the year. The red berries on a Kousa tree are edible fruits, globose shaped with tough, rough outer skin and small bumps. After pollination, dogwoods create a type of fruit called a drupe. While many dogwoods produce fruit, a few species have berries that are toxic to people (although birds can eat them safely). The flowers are also the state flower of North Carolina. Let's stay updated! In fall, the foliage becomes a mix of yellow and maroon. Before you plant this type of plant, make sure to check your local regulations, as it may be discouraged. Also known as the red osier dogwood, the red twig dogwood is a moderately-sized shrub that will visibly be in your landscape with its stems that start turning red at the end of the summer. There are so many different types of dogwood trees and shrubs, and even small herb-like shrubs, all with such beautiful flowers, bark, and foliage. Its leaves form in clusters, and the cream-colored blooms thoroughly cover the plants branches. Ornamental cornelian cherries are the most popular type to be seen in residential gardens. Compared to native dogwoods, the kousa dogwood has a more upright habit and flowers later than the other species. Well-balanced soils may not require any fertilizing at all; however, where soils are lacking in nutrients, use a slow-release fertilizer with the correct balance for dogwoods. Popescu, I., et al. It reaches heights of 15 to 20 feet (4.5-6 m.). The plant should be about 12 inches below the grow light. The interesting bark is light to dark grayish brown, which exfoliates as the tree matures, leaving behind patches of reddish-brown and tan. In general, it takes a dogwood tree about five to seven years before it is ready and matures enough to flower. Cherry can be used in jellies, jams, syrups, pies, and wines because they taste like tart cherries. There are approximately 17 dogwood varieties that are native to North America. Though it prefers a moist climate, the stiff Dogwood can adapt to drier conditions. Dogwood trees with red berries are small to medium, beautiful, deciduous trees, some of which produce tasty fruit. Its not just improper drainage or care. This is a good specimen tree for a location with acidic soil and afternoon shade. Red Twig DogwoodZone: 2 - 8. Its a taller and more upright tree than the flowering dogwood. They will also consume other types of fruit including grapes, cherries, mulberries, and blueberries; however, their diet consists mostly of insects during breeding season. Kousa dogwood Kristin Lipkas Variegated Weeper has green and creamy-yellow leaves. Thus, apricots, bananas, and grapes, as well as bean pods, corn grains, tomatoes, cucumbers, and (in their shells) acorns and almonds, are all technically fruits. However, since the trunks of this type of Dogwood only reach about six inches in diameter and the branches grow horizontally, it tends to function more as a shrub. Dogwoods are among the most beautiful trees found in American landscapes, but not all types are suitable for the garden. Asking someone to recommend the best dogwood for Oklahoma might seem a mean joke. This tree starts flowering 2 to 3 days after C. florida has stopped flowering. You can harvest the fruit of this tree once it has ripened and fallen to the ground, and use it to make liquors, jams, desserts, pickles, and sauces. It prefers moist, well-draining soils, but it will also perform well in soils that are dry or wet, and boggy. Kousa dogwood trees turn spectacular colorful shades in the fall. Fruit is blue-black. Cultivars and Varieties: Cornus alba 'Sibirica'-Siberian Dogwood, Cornus alba 'Kesselringii'-Black Stem Dogwood, Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'-White Dogwood This type of dogwood is highly ornamental, making a colorful display that changes with the seasons. The flowers, fruit, and leaves of the Gray Dogwood are similar to the Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea). The blooming time is typically in May a month after other dogwoods, which usually bloom in April. The plant has yellow flowers with oval foliage that is approximately four inches in length. The fruits are edible, although . These berries have a slightly oval shape and are bright red in color. It is often considered the western version of the flowering dogwood, but with this plant, the white flowers are quite large and the fall color is yellow, orange, or red. By contrast, the Flowering dogwood produces berries that are devoured by birds, but they are known to be mildly poisonous to humans. Unlike many of the other dogwoods mentioned thus far, the fruit that the cornelian cherry produces is edible. Continue reading for our complete list of the most popular types of dogwoods to inspire your garden planning. Flowering dogwood trees grow 15 to 30 ft. (4.5 9 m) tall and wide. Berries on Cornelian cherry dogwood trees are edible olive-shaped drupes. Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener. Red dogwood berries are a type of aggregate fruit like blackberries or raspberries. It is considered an upright deciduous shrub that features multiple stems. This herb is still used in traditional Chinese medicine, but its becoming less popular. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. This small dogwood tree variety is deciduous or a multi-stemmed shrub. Popularly, however, the term is restricted to the ripened ovaries that are sweet and either succulent or pulpy. This beautiful tree is interesting all year, with pink or white flowers in late winter or early spring, followed by attractive green foliage. The bark of this plant may be a reddish, purple, or brown color, which offers interest in the winter when the leaves have all dropped. The flowers give way to bright red fruits, which will remain on the tree until fall unless they are eaten by hungry birds. Its bright green leaves turn red in fall, and fuzzy-white flowers are found in springtime, giving way to bluish-white fruits. Mist the cutting with water before sealing the bag. 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