Some trees show off in spring, others in summer, and others are flashy in fall. Sadly, perhaps, the rarer tree masterfully navigates each season as a leading lady of the landscape. Dogwood trees, however, manage to do exactly that, and some of them even have decorative bark that lights up the winter landscape. Here, we’ll share our favorite dogwood varieties to help you choose the most beautiful type for your garden.
Dogwoods are some of the most prolific bloomers of the spring season, with their masses of significantly sized flowers in shades of white, pink, and even red. They make wonderful shade trees in summer with their low, wide canopies.
If the blooms and pretty foliage are not incentive enough to grow a dogwood, you simply must see them in fall. Dogwood trees turn shades of brilliant scarlet and vermillion, gently accented with golds and oranges. Some have attractive red fruits, and a select few have colorful bark that creates interest in winter.
Let’s take a look at some wonderful dogwood varieties for your landscape.
Appalachian Joy
This dogwood will thrive in partial shade and grow to be around 15-20 feet.
 | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Joy’ |
|---|---|
 | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
 | height 15’ – 20’ |
 | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
This gorgeous dogwood will shine all four seasons of the year. Starting in fall with very showy flowers, the blooms of this variety are extra special. Where most dogwood flowers have four petals, ‘Appalachian Joy’ can have up to 8 petals or bracts per flower! The canopy is wide and branching, creating a lovely contrast to more upright neighboring trees.
In fall, ‘Appalachian Joy’ goes out with an intense color show. Leaves turn shades of red and purple, then fall to reveal bright red berries for the winter, attracting many songbirds to the garden. This variety was also bred for enhanced disease resistance, making this an excellent tree for those living in areas where dogwoods are vulnerable.
Arctic Fire
The Arctic Fire, known for its fiery red branches, is typically grown as a shrub.
| | botanical name Cornus sericea ‘Farrow’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 3’-4′ |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
‘Arctic Fire’ is more of a shrub than a tree, reaching a mature height of only five feet tall. Its branching habit makes it a wonderful, dense little shrub, though. It is very shade tolerant, so this dogwood can flourish in your yard’s difficult spots. It also does fine with partial sun.
The flowers on ‘Arctic Fire’ are small and white and appear in tight clusters along with the bright green leaves in spring. The main attraction of this variety is the one that is most apparent in winter. The newer branches are a bold, bright shade of red, deepening as they age. They make very nice cut branches to add to winter floral arrangements.
Arctic Sun
The Arctic Sun dogwood will be covered in bright, white, fragrant flowers in the spring.
| | botanical name Cornus sanguinea ‘Arctic Sun’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4’ |
| | hardiness zones 4 – 8 |
If you guess this dogwood might also have colorful bark like its similarly named cousin, ‘Arctic Fire’, you will not be disappointed. ‘Arctic Sun’ has ornamental bark that shines in shades of yellow and orange and deepens to a wonderful shade of coral over time.
Arctic sun glows in the garden, masses of small white flowers smell lovely in spring, and the foliage turns from green to gold in fall. Its compact size makes this a very accessible plant, even for smaller spaces. Keep this one close to your outdoor living spaces to enjoy the colors all year.
Barton
The Barton variety is known for its elegant stature and beautiful bright red foliage in spring.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Barton’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’ – 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Barton’ is an elegant, classic dogwood tree with a manageable mature height of 20’-25’. When I hear the name dogwood, this is the tree I envision. An avenue of these trees makes a spectacular sight in spring and fall, and its pyramidal growth habit makes a nice shade tree in summer.
‘Barton’s’ blooms are the quintessential, four-petaled variety, in white, with green centers. The leaves begin and end their tenure in shades of red. The leaves emerge ruby red in spring, gradually deepening to a dark green shade. Finally, in fall, the foliage shows off a flamboyant, fiery shade of red.
Cherokee Brave
The Cherokee Brave variety is a hybrid made to withstand drought and disease.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Comco No. 1’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’ – 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
The Cherokee series are hybrids with excellent disease resistance. This variety is known for its exceptionally colorful nature. The flowers of ‘Cherokee Brave’ are some of the showiest of the genus. Red-edged bracts are white toward the center, with red veining and lime green centers.
The foliage of this cultivar also shows off a hint of blush before maturing to large, bold, green leaves. In fall, the leaves turn burgundy and then fall to display the bright red berries that bring in overwintering songbirds. This hardy hybrid resists diseases and pests and is more drought-tolerant than most.
Cherokee Princess
The Cherokee Princess is a stunning variety, reaching 30 feet tall.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 30’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
This princess is aptly named for her exquisite beauty. ‘Cherokee Princess’ is a fairly large variety, reaching about 30 feet tall at maturity. A nice, wide, branching growth habit makes a stunning statement covered in large, snow-white flowers in spring. This cultivar has red leaves in spring, which deepen to a deep green shade in summer.
This excellent shade tree has a flair for the dramatic, with four seasons of interest. In fall, when the daylight hours wane and chlorophyll production slows, the red undertones flare back up, turning brick red. Red berries add interest in winter contrasted with the attractive grey bark. ‘Cherokee Princess’ typically has a spread greater than its height and a low clearance.
Cloud Nine
This small tree does best in partial shade.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Cloud Nine’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 15’ – 30’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
‘Cloud Nine’ is a versatile dogwood that can be trained as a large shrub or a small tree. It has a generously branching growth habit, making it a great specimen or landscape focal point. Dogwood trees have a wonderful, intentional effect on the landscape that not many trees can create.
Expect large, showy, white flowers for several weeks in spring, followed by glowing green foliage in summer. Crimson and scarlet are ‘Cloud Nine’s’ fall tones, and visible red berries spruce up the winter garden. This variety can be sensitive, so if your area has a history of anthracnose infestation, this might not be the right one for your yard.
Elizabeth Lustgarden
This variety has unique, bright red fruit that hangs down from its branches in fall.
| | botanical name Cornus kousa ‘Elizabeth Lustgarden’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 12’ – 15’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
The kousa species of dogwoods are not native. Rather, they hail from Asia and have excellent disease resistance. ‘Elizabeth Lustgarden’ is a charming variety with a weeping habit in a nice compact size that can be a large shrub or small tree. The branches will weep all the way to the ground when the tree is mature.
This is not a variety you will likely see in everyone’s garden, so it will be a special focal point wherever you plant it. In fall, this variety’s large, downward-hanging leaves are a bold shade of scarlet. In winter, Kousa Dogwoods have large, edible fruit, unlike other species, which have fruit that is edible for birds but not humans.
Firebird
This beautiful variety will attract all kinds of pollinators with its flashy red flowers and multicolored foliage.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Fircomz’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial sun |
| | height 15’ – 18’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 9 |
Hold onto your hats because this one is a showstopper. If colorful is your aim, ‘Firebird’ will be at the top of your list. The variegated foliage pops out in pink, white, and green shades in spring. This flashy foliage is joined by wonderful red and white flowers attractive to pollinators. At just 15’-18’ tall, this dogwood fits in anywhere.
In fall, the stunning foliage shows off even more, turning shades of pink and plum, with plump red fruits sprinkled throughout. It is stunning year-round, and the songbirds will flock to your garden for a feast when ‘Firebird’ drops its leaves. This variety makes a great, large shrub, but the bottom branches can also be pruned to create more of a small tree shape.
First Lady
The multicolored foliage and contrasting, bright, white flowers make these trees a stunning addition to any garden.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘First Lady’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’ – 30’ |
| | hardiness zones 6 – 9 |
‘First Lady’ joins ‘Firebird’ in having variegated foliage, but in this case, the variegation shows off in shades of green and yellow, which are higher contrast in cooler climates and deeper green in warmer ones. The flowers are large and creamy white. First Lady has an upright, branching habit, making it a very attractive, multi-level tree.
This is a larger variety and a show-off in fall, with leaves that maintain variegation but in bold shades of pink and purple. If the lower branches are not pruned, they maintain a low clearance, often drooping to the ground. The upper branches grow more vertically. This is a truly beautiful addition to the landscape.
Isanti
The Isanti dogwood is much more tolerant in colder climates and is typically used as shrubs for hedges.
| | botanical name Cornus sericea ‘Isanti’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4′ – 5′ |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 8 |
This shrubby dogwood has excellent cold tolerance and is hardy to Zone 3. It is slow-growing and compact and makes a lovely hedge once mature. The foliage is red in spring and accented with clusters of small, white flowers. The summer foliage deepens to a nice, medium-green shade.
‘Isanti’ has the signature red fall foliage so common to the genus and produces small white fruits, similar to ‘Firedance’. Another similar trait between the two varieties is the bright red branches that make this a special treat for the winter landscape. Pruning the oldest branches will keep the bark bright red and showy.
Ivory Halo
What the Ivory Halo lacks in flowers, it makes up for with its creamy, multicolored foliage.
| | botanical name Cornus alba ‘Baihalo’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 6’ |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
‘Ivory Halo’ is an uneventful bloomer, but that doesn’t mean that it is without its charms. The foliage is a major selling point for this shrubby dogwood variety. The foliage is variegated, with stunning blue-green leaves that have bright white, irregular margins. While the flowers aren’t the main attraction, pollinators seem fond of this variety.
The leaves take on a reddish-purple tone in fall and are accented by pretty white berries that attract songbirds. This variety also has bold red bark, which is wonderful in contrast with the cool-colored leaves and brilliant against the chilly winter landscape.
Neon Burst
With bright neon foliage, this variety is sure to turn heads!
| | botanical name Cornus alba ‘Byboughen’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 4′ – 5’ |
| | hardiness zones 2 – 7 |
Flashy and colorful, ‘Neon Burst’ is a more sun-tolerant dogwood shrub than most. The foliage emerges neon green with a bronze cast, and the color intensifies to glowing chartreuse by summertime. The branches are deep red, and the color is most intense in spring, creating a wonderful color palette.
‘Neon Burst’ has a full and rounded growth habit and makes a spectacular hedge in a grouping. In fall, this variety really unleashes the rainbow, taking on red, purple, and orange accents to its bright yellow-green summer leaves. This very colorful shrub makes a big statement but doesn’t require much space.
Pacific
The Pacific dogwood will grow to be around 40 feet tall and will thrive best in warmer climates.
| | botanical name Cornus nuttallii |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 15’ – 40’ |
| | hardiness zones 7 – 9 |
Pacific is a large species of dogwood. Reaching average heights of about 40 feet tall, some specimens have grown taller than 60 feet. This dogwood also has hardwood commonly used to make a wide array of useful products. The bark is smooth and dark, and the leaves are a lovely pointed oval shape.
Pacific dogwood has the delightful habit of blooming in spring and again in early fall as the weather cools. The fall bloom can overlap with fall color changes, which come in purples and reds. This tree is native to the United States Pacific coast and prefers warmer climates.
Pagoda
In fall, ‘Pagoda’s’ foliage changes from green to a spectacular, bright red.
| | botanical name Cornus alternifolia |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 15’ – 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
This cultivar’s interesting, horizontal, tiered branching habit makes it highly desirable. Native to the northern United States, ‘Pagoda’ is cold-tolerant, and its size lends well to both a large shrub or small tree form. The name comes from its unique branching habit, which creates layers that narrow toward the top of the tree.
‘Pagoda’ has heavily veined, deep green leaves, producing clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers in spring. Flowers give way to black fruits, and the bark is ornamental, with reddish-purple undertones to newer growth. In fall, ‘Pagoda’s’ foliage is bright red. This tree is best suited for cooler climates and is not drought-tolerant.
Rainbow
The Rainbow dogwood is slow-growing but will eventually reach a height of at least 30 feet.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Rainbow’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 30’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
For lots of garden color, it’s no surprise that ‘Rainbow’ dogwood would be at the top of the list. This rather large variety has a horizontal branching habit, which creates a layered look as the tree matures. The flowers are the least colorful part of the tree, but they are very pretty. Large and creamy white, the flowers nicely complement the spring’s gold and green variegated foliage.
In summer, the leaves deepen in color, and red fruits develop. The fall foliage is ruby-colored and makes a striking backdrop for shorter-statured plants. ‘Rainbow’ is slow growing, at about 12-18 inches per year, and reaches a mature height of about 30 feet tall.
Red Osier
The Red Osier loves to be in partial shade and will thrive best in zones 2 through 8.
| | botanical name Cornus sericea |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Partial shade |
| | height 6’ – 9’ |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 7 |
‘Red Osier’ is the most widespread dogwood of those native to North America, ranging from Zone 3 to Zone 7. It is a very tolerant and sturdy species. Best grown as a medium-sized shrub, it’s got plenty of appeal in the landscape. The red branches common in shrubbier dogwoods are particularly bright and create a wonderful contrast with the bright green leaves.
‘Red Osier’ produces clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers in spring, which appear after the leaves, creating another element of beauty to the plant. The leaves of this species have also been similarly used by some Native Americans as tobacco leaves.
Satomi
The Satomi makes for a lovely shade tree and is known to be resistant to pests and disease.
| | botanical name Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 12’ – 20’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Satomi’ is a non-native dogwood variety that hails from Asia. Initially, this small to medium-sized dogwood has a vase shape, but it matures to a lovely rounded form and makes a nice shade tree.
The flowers of this variety are distinctive and beautiful. The four bracts are white and have the appearance of being lightly sprayed or splattered with deep pink paint. Kousa dogwoods also produce edible fruits, although few people cultivate them for that purpose, and they are typically left for the birds, who thoroughly enjoy them.
Silver and Gold
The ‘Silver and Gold’ variety prefers wet soil and lots of water.
| | botanical name Cornus sericea ‘Silver and Gold’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 5′ – 7’ |
| | hardiness zones 3 – 8 |
Speaking of shrubby dogwoods with ornamental bark, ‘Silver and Gold’ is a wonderful cultivar with sunny yellow to red branches, making this a statement plant for all seasons. It is tolerant of wet and boggy soil types and, in fact, prefers quite a lot of water, so avoid planting this in full sun and give it special attention during the hot summer months.
‘Silver and Gold’ has wonderful variegated foliage in addition to its colorful bark. The leaves are reminiscent of ‘Pearls and Jade’ pothos, with irregular variations of light and dark green, mingled with white, with white margins. The flowers of this variety are not noteworthy as they are quite small, but the fruits they produce are very attractive.
Venus
The Venus dogwood has some of the largest blooms, growing to almost eight inches in diameter.
| | botanical name Cornus ‘Kn30 8’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 14’ – 18’ |
| | hardiness zones 6 – 9 |
For a specimen tree that will have the neighbors talking, ‘Venus’ really takes the cake. This small tree has some of the largest flowers of the dogwoods, at six to eight inches in diameter. The size and sheer volume of the flowers create a spectacular effect in spring. As a hybrid of C. kousa, the strawberry-like fruits of this tree are edible.
Venus has a spread that is typically greater than its height, creating a gorgeous, layered canopy. It typically has a low clearance, but the bottom branches can be pruned off to create more of a tree shape. In fall, ‘Venus’ shows up in shades of red, gold, orange, and purple, making this one of the showiest dogwoods on the list.
Wonderberry
This cultivar thrives best in partial shade and will reach a height of 20 to 25 feet tall.
| | botanical name Cornus florida ‘Wonderberry’ |
|---|---|
| | sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
| | height 20’ – 25’ |
| | hardiness zones 5 – 8 |
‘Wonderberry’ is named for its fruits, which are bright red and somewhat larger than most dogwoods. Rather than being round, they are an elongated shape and quite visible against the green foliage. This variety grows to about 25 feet but has a low clearance if not pruned, so it has a shrubby and tiered growth habit.
‘Wonderberry’ has pure white flowers in classic form with four petal bracts. In fall, the foliage turns shades of red and gold. With its large berries that are very visible and attractive to birds, ‘Wonderberry’ has year-round landscape interest.
Final Thoughts
Dogwood trees are simply stunning and make a wonderful addition to any garden landscape. Their bounty of blooms in spring, striking foliage through summer and fall, and attractive berries and branches in winter add beauty to the yard all year. Very few trees can boast as many wonderful qualities. In case you were wondering which dogwood I will add to my garden this year, ‘Venus’ truly has my heart!
