- origin
- use
- appearance and growth
- flowers and flowering time
- location and soil
- Cut Cornus properly
- multiply cornus
- species and varieties
- Yellowwood dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea')
Pretty, white or pink flowers in spring, equally attractive fruit decorations and bright foliage colors in autumn and lush growth: dogwoods (bot. Cornus) are an important and robust woody species for the garden. There is a huge selection of around 50 different species, their varieties and hybrids.
The beautiful dogwood also occurs naturally in Germany
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- use
- appearance and growth
- flowers and flowering time
- location and soil
- Cut Cornus properly
- multiply cornus
- species and varieties
- Yellowwood dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea')
- 'Cherokee Chief': broad, bushy, slow growth, pink, very lush flowers
- 'Cloud Nine': broad bushy shrub, numerous white spherical flowers
- 'Daniela': bushy growth, green-yellow variegated foliage, striking autumn colors, white flowers
- 'Eve Pride': sprawling growth, semi-double, white flowers, red autumn colour
- 'Green Glow': loosely branched, small tree with plate-shaped, white flowers
- 'Pumpkin Patch': large shrub, slow-growing, plate-shaped white flowers, variegated foliage
- 'Rainbow': broad, bushy, slow growth, large, white flowers
- 'Royal Red': upright growth, well branched, red flowers and fruits
- 'Rubra': broad, bushy habit, pink flowers, scarlet autumn colours
- 'Barmstedt': snow-white flowers, red fruits, strong red autumn colour
- 'Claudia': cupped, white flowers, reddish autumn colour
- 'Milky Way': large, cream-colored flowers, plentiful
- 'National': large, white flowers, red fruits
- 'Schmetterling': pure white flowers fading to pink, plentiful, crimson autumn colours
- 'Teutonia': large, white flowers, large fruits, red-violet autumn colour
- 'White Fontaine': greenish to cream-colored flowers, plentiful
- 'Wieting's Select': white to pink striped flowers, plentiful flowers, dark red fruits, purple autumn colours
- 'Big Apple': apple-green, later cream-colored flowers, large fruits
- 'Bonfire': tiered growth, yellow-green foliage, creamy-white flowers
- 'Bultinck's Giant Flower': particularly large, white flowers, compact growth
- 'Cherokee': red-purple autumn colours, cream-colored flowers
- 'China Dawn': growth in tiers, white flowers, strong autumn colours
- 'Eurostar': cream-colored flowers, beautiful autumn colors
- 'Goldstar': variegated yellow foliage, white flowers
- 'Kreuzdame': flowers arranged crosswise in a frame, very decorative
- 'Peve Foggy': greenish to cream flowers, white-edged leaves
- 'Pink Lips': Striking, variegated foliage, strong autumn colours, pink flowers
- 'Snowflake': pure white flowers, beautiful autumn colours
- 'Trinity Star': variegated foliage, white flowers
origin
The various Cornus species belong to the dogwood family (Cornaceae) and are found primarily in the temperate but also subtropical climate zones of the world. The red dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) and the cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) are native to Germany. On the other hand, the fascinating flower dogwoods (Cornus florida, Cornus kousa, etc.) come from Asia and the USA, and score points with their beautiful floral decorations and raspberry-like, edible fruits.
use
The various Cornus species are suitable for different purposes depending on their specific growth form. Flowering dogwoods, for example, should be planted individually if possible, as they develop spreading crowns over time and need a lot of space. They fit perfectly into Japanese or otherwise Asian gardens and are very suitable as companions for rhododendrons.
Other species can also be used wonderfully for hedge plantings, especially the white and red dogwood and the cornel are often used as bird protection hedges or as a design element of a natural garden. In particular, the Canadian or carpet dogwood thrives as a ground cover under rhododendrons and other trees.
appearance and growth
It is mainly larger shrubs or small trees that grow to heights of between three and six meters depending on the species. Perennial, herbaceous plants are less common among the various species, and most dogwood plants are deciduous. However, there are also some evergreen varieties, but they are of little importance in the garden.
flowers and flowering time
The numerous Cornus species also differ in terms of flower shape. Many develop an ovary with four sepals and four petals, some - such as the flower dogwood - in turn only have a very inconspicuous flower, but large bracts. White and pink flowering variants predominate, with the cornelian cherry, for example, showing yellow and the Swedish dogwood (Cornus suecica) also showing violet flowers. Flowering time is usually in spring, with the native species often showing their splendor as early as March, while the American and Asian forms are much later. Beautifully colored drupes often appear in autumn, which can be red, black or white and some species are even edible.
location and soil
The native dogwoods are mostly very robust, adaptable trees that get along well in almost any location. The cornelian cherry, but also the white and red dogwood prefer a sunny location on fresh, humus-rich loamy soil, but can also be cultivated in the shade. Flowering dogwoods, on the other hand, are a little more demanding: they are best planted in permeable, sandy, fresh soil rich in humus and nutrients. These species feel most comfortable in light-shaded, humid and sheltered locations.
Cut Cornus properly
With the exception of most flowering dogwoods, many species are very tolerant of pruning. In particular, the white and the yellowwood dogwood should be "put on the stick" regularly in the spring, i. H. severely pruned. On the other hand, species such as Cornus florida and Cornus kousa should not be pruned at all if possible.
multiply cornus
Here, too, with the exception of the flower dogwood, almost all Cornus species can be propagated very well via cuttings, sticks and sowing. You can also use rooted ground shoots like offshoots. The different varieties of flowering dogwood, on the other hand, are usually propagated by grafting.
tips
Dogwood plants are generally very hardy and are rarely attacked by pests and diseases. The American flower dogwood (Cornus florida) in particular is threatened by the so-called anthracnose in unfavorable, hot locations. This is a fungal disease that can hardly be treated and which initially manifests itself as dark leaf spots.
species and varieties
About 50 different dogwood species are known, many of which can also be cultivated in the home garden. Some of these are wild forms (e.g. the cornelian cherry, Cornus mas, which is native to us) as well as numerous cultivated forms. We have summarized the most beautiful shrubs for small and large gardens for you here.
American flower dogwood (Cornus florida)
In its natural environment, this popular flowering tree grows up to twelve meters high, but with us it stays much smaller with an average of around six meters and a width of up to three meters. The species grows as a small tree or shrub and impresses above all with its lush flowers, which are particularly large with a diameter of up to nine centimetres. The dull green leaf color changes to a gorgeous red-purple to scarlet red in autumn.
Beautiful varieties for the garden
Chinese flower dogwood (Cornus kousa var. chinensis)
This variant of Cornus kousa grows stronger than the Japanese flower dogwood and is overall more robust than the American flower dogwood. The small trees or shrubs bloom in late spring in white or soft pink. In autumn, the Chinese flower dogwood is covered with numerous fruits reminiscent of raspberries. These are edible and have an aromatic taste.
Beautiful varieties for the garden
Yellow dogwood (Cornus mas)
This large shrub often forms several trunks and a sparse branching and reaches a height of up to five meters. The numerous yellow flowers that adorn the cornelian cherry between March and April are particularly pretty. By autumn, they develop fruits that are quite similar to cherries, which are edible and have a high vitamin C content. They are ideal for making jellies, jams or liqueurs.
Yellowwood dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea')
This species grows upright, densely bushy and develops numerous shoots that can reach a total height of up to three meters. The yellowish-white flowers appear in May and the white fruits appear in autumn. These are not poisonous, but inedible. The light to yellow-green colored bark, which is particularly noticeable in winter, is particularly striking.
Japanese Flower Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
Native to Japan and Korea, this Cornus species grows as a small tree, develops a short trunk and can reach six meters in height. The species is attractive at any time of the year, but is particularly eye-catching during the flowering period between June and July. The large, creamy white to pink flowers appear during this time. In autumn, pick the raspberry-like, red to pink fruits, which can be made into jellies or jams.
Beautiful varieties for the garden
The Japanese flower dogwood is particularly rich in different cultivated forms, which differ only marginally.
Japanese cornel (Cornus officinalis)
The Japanese cornel is a deciduous tree and is particularly suitable for a solitary position. The small tree reaches heights of up to seven meters and can be up to three meters wide. The bright yellow flowers appear between March and April, the bright red drupes are edible and can be used to make jams, jellies and the like.
Pagoda dogwood (Cornus controversa)
This large shrub grows wild in large numbers in East Asia, especially in northern India, Nepal, China, Japan and Korea and thrives primarily in the light shade of large trees. The pagoda-like habit is very eye-catching, as is the distinctive blue-green foliage. The tree can grow up to eight meters high and five meters wide, so it needs a lot of space.
Red Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
This very robust, native shrub that grows up to five meters tall has a reason for its name: not only do the green leaves turn bright red in autumn, but the young shoots also show a striking red color during the winter months. The white flowers arranged in cymes appear from May. The black-purple, berry-like fruits are slightly poisonous and not suitable for consumption.
Carpet dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
The carpet dogwood, also known as the Canadian dogwood, is neither a tree nor a shrub, but a ground cover that grows to a maximum height of 20 centimeters. The pretty, cream-colored flowers appear from the end of May, in autumn red fruits, the size of peas, adorn the wood.
Dwarf Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera 'Kelsey')
The dwarf dogwood, which only grows to a height of around 75 centimeters and a width of up to 150 centimetres, is particularly suitable as a ground cover and cuts a fine figure in heather gardens in particular. Blossoms and fruits appear rather inconspicuous, but the green to bright red wood shines all the more. In autumn, the fresh green foliage takes on an orange to purple hue.