Dark pink new flower bracts mature to silvery pink during its bloom period in May. Red fruit. Green leaves turn brilliant scarlet in autumn. Slow growing native understory tree with stiff trunk and wide horizontal branching. Renown for its showy flower bracts that begin to open with the first warm days of spring. Red fruit in fall. Foliage turns luminous pink-scarlet-red in fall. Young stems have a purplish cast, mature bark becomes gray-brown and rough. One of the favorite plants for landscaping in the eastern USA, but susceptible to environmental stress. Requires special care to maintain a healthy appearance in this region. Note that intensity of pink color varies with weather, site, and age.
Hardy Zone 5-9
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Sowing instructions:
Natural germination of flowering dogwood usually occurs in the spring following seedfall, but some seeds do not germinate until the second spring. Germination is epigeal. Stratification of freshly collected seed at 41° F for periods up to 120 days is recommended for overcoming embryo dormancy . After stratification sow in spring (surface) in a light shady spot. Can be transplanted well, once seedling is a few inch tall.
