Flower dogwoods are impressive plants that come with beautiful flowers. We introduce you to the most beautiful varieties.
Dogwoods are probably one of the loveliest garden shrubs, because they not only come with an impressive flower, but also bloom for a very long time. Depending on the variety, the flowers are either white, pink, purple, or red and can reach the size of a palm. The great thing: due to its size, you can plant the flower dogwood separately and get a real eye-catcher in the garden.
There are so many different flower dogwood shapes that there should be something for every taste and garden size. In addition to smaller varieties, there are also varieties that grow into trees and can reach heights of up to six meters. Here we explain which varieties look particularly pretty and how they are planted.
Various flower dogwood varieties presented
Red Flower Dogwood:
The red flowered dogwood delights its owner with a pink-red and white, 12 centimeter large flower that forms a pretty contrast to the green and white foliage.
While the flowers can be admired from May to June, the dogwood shines again with a striking, purple foliage coloration in autumn. The red flower dogwood is available in various cultivated forms, most of which grow to a height of up to 3 metres, but are very sprawling in width.
Japanese Flower Dogwood:
- Location: sun to partial shade
- wide, but rather upright in growth
- Growth: 200 - 350 cm
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The flowering phase of the Japanese flower dogwood does not begin until the end of May to June and also comes up with impressive white flowers (diameter approx. 8 - 9 centimetres), which are often covered with a pink tinge when they change colour.
Its growth habit distinguishes it from other flowering dogwood varieties in that it grows steeply and is less spreading in width.
Chinese Flower Dogwood:
- Location: sun to partial shade
- straight upright growth
- Growth: 300 -500cm
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From May to early July, the Chinese flower dogwood shines with its white flowers, which then bring raspberry-colored and raspberry-like fruits with them.
While its leaves are green from spring to summer, they turn a pretty red in autumn, which again underlines its attractiveness.
The Chinese flower dogwood grows faster than its Japanese relative and can reach a height of up to 5 meters under optimal conditions.
American Flower Dogwood:
- Location: sun to partial shade
- slow but spreading growth
- Growth: 150 - 250 cm
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Already quite early - from April already - the American flower dogwood shows a splendor of pure pink flowers, which is why it is also popularly referred to as redskin.
Then in autumn, this shrub produces scarlet fruits that contrast nicely with the turning purple foliage.
Planting flower dogwoods
Due to their fruit formation, all flower dogwoods need a sunny and, depending on the variety, sometimes a light-flooded, semi-shady location as well as a slightly acidic soil condition. Since the individual shrubs can grow up to 5 meters tall, you should plan a solitary position in the garden, which will also show off their beauty better.
» Tip:
You should always loosen the soil around a flowering dogwood and enrich it with compost in spring and autumn. If necessary, you can also administer fertilizer at any time.
Furthermore, all flower dogwoods don't tolerate pruning! Only kinked or dead branches should be carefully removed from the bush. If you prune the flower dogwood yourself, then this prevents new shoots in spring and thus also the formation of flowers.
Most of all varieties of the flower dogwood available in our garden stores are also hardy, which is why they are ideal for cultivation in our region. It is best to avoid the less hardy dogwood trees.
» Tip:
You can, however, confidently plant the so-called carpet dogwood (up to 20 centimeters high) as ground cover in the garden.