Plants
Dogwood
Cornus · Cornaceae
Hardly any shrub genus offers as much year-round as dogwood: cornelian cherry opens the season in February with clouds of yellow bloom, the flowering dogwoods adorn themselves in May and June with large white or pink bracts, and the coloured-bark varieties glow coral red out of the bare winter garden. For us florists, the coloured cornus stems are indispensable material in the winter months.
- Light
- Sun to partial shade; the winter bark colours most intensely in full sun.
- Watering
- Moderate: keep evenly fresh; coloured-bark dogwoods also tolerate moist sites.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Cornus
The genus divides roughly into three groups. The flowering dogwoods — Cornus kousa from Asia and Cornus florida from North America — are small trees with spectacular saucer-sized blooms whose „petals“ are actually coloured bracts. Cornus kousa is the more robust choice here and carries raspberry-like edible fruit in autumn.
The second group are the coloured-bark dogwoods: Cornus alba „Sibirica“ with coral-red shoots and Cornus sanguinea „Midwinter Fire“ with orange-yellow flaming stems. Only the young rods show colour, which is why they are cut back hard every few years in spring — a classic mistake is skipping this until the shrub ages and turns dull brown.
The third is cornelian cherry, Cornus mas: a native wild fruit shrub that flowers yellow as early as February and March before the leaves emerge, making it one of the earliest bee pastures of all. Its tart red fruits can be made into jam and juice.
In floristry the red and yellow cornus rods are a mainstay from November to March: as graphic lines in winter bouquets, bent into wreaths and arrangements, or bundled as a stand-alone vase feature. Cut, they last for weeks and often even root in the vase. At the auction we buy them in long, smooth, intensely coloured grades.
Good news for families: dogwood is considered largely non-toxic to dogs and cats. The raw berries of common dogwood are, however, unpalatable and can upset children's stomachs in quantity — whereas the fruits of cornelian cherry and Cornus kousa are edible.
Is Dogwood toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Dogwood is considered non-toxic to dogs and cats. The raw berries of common dogwood are, however, unpalatable and can cause stomach upset in children in larger amounts; cornelian cherries and kousa fruits are edible.
Typical symptoms: After eating many raw common dogwood berries: nausea, stomach discomfort and diarrhoea.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Sunny to partially shaded position; flowering dogwoods like slightly acidic, humus-rich soil.
- 02Coloured-bark dogwoods also tolerate moist soils and are fully hardy.
- 03Water young plants regularly in their first year, afterwards only in long dry spells.
- 04Cut bark varieties back hard in March every two to three years so colourful young shoots regrow.
- 05Avoid pruning flowering dogwoods; they build a beautiful shape naturally.
- 06Watch for anthracnose on Cornus florida; Cornus kousa is considerably more resistant.
Frequently asked
- Why does my dogwood bark no longer glow red?
- Only the young shoots of one to two years carry the intense colour; older rods turn dull grey-brown. The solution is a bold cut back to about 10 to 20 centimetres in March — the fresh rods will glow at full colour again next winter.
- Is dogwood toxic to dogs and cats?
- No, dogwood is considered non-toxic to dogs and cats, making it one of the safer garden shrub choices for pet households. Only the raw berries of common dogwood are unpalatable and should not be eaten by children in quantity.
- Which flowering dogwood is best for German gardens?
- In most locations Cornus kousa is the safest choice: it is hardier, flowers a little later (thus escaping late frosts), resists the anthracnose fungal disease and carries decorative, edible fruit in autumn. Cornus florida is magnificent but more delicate.
- Can I put dogwood branches in a vase?
- Absolutely — the coloured winter rods are a classic of winter floristry and last many weeks in the vase, often even taking root. Flowering branches of cornelian cherry can also be cut from late January and will open indoors, much like forsythia.