When dogwood is mentioned, most people think of the tree form of Japanese Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida). Flowering dogwood is native in the southern states, but is also grown in Northern Michigan. It is best to plant Japanese Flowering Dogwood grown from northern grown seed as they are usually hardier than those from southern destinations. Tree-form dogwoods thrive in shady areas. If they have been balled and burlapped from red clay soil, the dogwood trees are most likely to be southern-grown trees. The Japanese Dogwood is a relatively small tree that have mostly white bracts (some types have pink to red bracts), and they flower mid spring in our area. In my opinion, the Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) - also known as Chinese or Korean Dogwood - is a better choice for a tree dogwood in our area. The Kousa Dogwood appears to be hardier than the Japanese Flowering Dogwood. The flowers (bracts) are smaller than its counterpart, but flowers are produced more profusely than in the Japanese Flowering Dogwood. It also blossoms later therefore is less prone to freeze and the flower color is more creamy white.
Pagoda Dogwood is a small dogwood tree that grows native in Northern Michigan. Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternafolia) is the only Dogwood that I know of that have “Alternafolia” leaves. This means that the leaves grow alternately along the stems of the tree. The other types of Dogwood have leaves that are arranged opposite along their branches or twigs. Pagoda Dogwood is a relatively small, open, irregular grown tree or large shrub with creamy-white bracts (flowers). Pagoda dogwood trees have a beautiful dark red fall color.
There are several varieties of shrub-form Dogwood that can be grown in our area. Many shrub-forms of Dogwood are very special in winter landscapes as the twig color is especially pronounced against the white of snow. Probably the best known is the Red Osier Dogwood that exhibits bright red twigs. There are several other improved red twig varieties with red twig color. Some of those varieties are: Cardinal Dogwood, Isanti Dogwood (wide spreading), Siberian Dogwood, and Baton Rouge Dogwood (a compact red twig dogwood). Varieties of red twig dogwoods with variegated green and white leaves include: European Red Twig (grows upright to 6’) and Ivory Halo (has many twigs 4 to 6 feet and is wide-spreading). Yellow Twig Dogwood, and Variegated Yellow Twig Dogwood are also spectacular in the winter against the white snow. Dogwood shrubs will withstand some shade and will grow in wet areas, but will adapt to drier areas. Winter Flame Dogwood has striking bright orange and yellow twigs. Dogwoods with colored stems indeed give them year around appeal in the landscape.
Dorian
Pagoda Dogwood is a small dogwood tree that grows native in Northern Michigan. Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternafolia) is the only Dogwood that I know of that have “Alternafolia” leaves. This means that the leaves grow alternately along the stems of the tree. The other types of Dogwood have leaves that are arranged opposite along their branches or twigs. Pagoda Dogwood is a relatively small, open, irregular grown tree or large shrub with creamy-white bracts (flowers). Pagoda dogwood trees have a beautiful dark red fall color.
There are several varieties of shrub-form Dogwood that can be grown in our area. Many shrub-forms of Dogwood are very special in winter landscapes as the twig color is especially pronounced against the white of snow. Probably the best known is the Red Osier Dogwood that exhibits bright red twigs. There are several other improved red twig varieties with red twig color. Some of those varieties are: Cardinal Dogwood, Isanti Dogwood (wide spreading), Siberian Dogwood, and Baton Rouge Dogwood (a compact red twig dogwood). Varieties of red twig dogwoods with variegated green and white leaves include: European Red Twig (grows upright to 6’) and Ivory Halo (has many twigs 4 to 6 feet and is wide-spreading). Yellow Twig Dogwood, and Variegated Yellow Twig Dogwood are also spectacular in the winter against the white snow. Dogwood shrubs will withstand some shade and will grow in wet areas, but will adapt to drier areas. Winter Flame Dogwood has striking bright orange and yellow twigs. Dogwoods with colored stems indeed give them year around appeal in the landscape.
Dorian
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