How tall do dogwood trees get

How tall do dogwood trees get. The height of your dogwood tree will be determined by the species you choose to plant.

How tall do dogwood trees get
How tall do dogwood trees get

Tree height is affected by environmental factors, and various trees grow at different rates.

When selecting a dogwood tree for your home garden, become familiar with the various species, characteristics, and individual height expectations.

Dogwood Explanation

Dogwood trees are flowering trees that grow to be 15 to 40 feet tall. These deciduous trees attain a height of 15 to 20 feet when grown in the sun but up to 40 feet when planted in the shade.

The width of the tree is equal to or greater than its height. According to the Clemson University Extension, some dogwoods produce beautiful flowers, while others produce tiny clusters of flowers after the winter season and the beginning of spring.

Most people mistake flower petals for bracts, modified leaf structures that look like flower petals. Bracts can be yellow, pink, or white.

The small groups within these structures are the dogwood tree’s open blooms. The dogwood tree has a modest to moderate growth rate, averaging 20 feet of new growth every 25 years. 

The height of your dogwood tree will be determined by the species you choose to plant. The dogwood tree has a modest to moderate growth rate, averaging 20 feet of new growth every 25 years.

Kousa Dogwood

According to Clemson University Research, kousa dogwood trees (C. kousa) reach a height and width of 20 to 25 feet. This dogwood variety produces cream/white bracts and blooms in the spring, which may turn pink as the trees mature.

Throughout the autumn, green leaves turn purple, scarlet, or yellow. The kousa dogwood grows at a rate of about 10 feet per 15 years.

Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood

As per the Columbia University Extension, flowering dogwoods (C. Florida) can reach a height of 40 feet in shade and 15 to 20 feet in full sun.

During April and May, flowering dogwoods produce spectacular red, white, or pink bracts.

During the autumn, green leaves turn scarlet or red-purple. This plant reaches 15 feet in 18 years, but when cultivated in the shade, it grows faster.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

According to the Clemson University Extension, cornelian cherry dogwood trees (C. mas) reach a altitude of 20 to 25 feet and a width of 15 to 20 feet.

This species blooms spectacularly around the end of winter and spring. The flowers are bright yellow and spectacular. During the autumn, green leaves become purple-red to a desaturated green, but the color is generally dull.

Care and Use

It is critical to provide proper care for dogwoods to reach their full height potential. When feasible, provide partial shade; dogwoods will grow in full sun but become a shorter plant.

Dogwoods should be planted in acidic, moist, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. If drainage issues, amend the soil with organic matter such as compost. 

According to the Clemson University Extension, add up to 3 inches of mulch around the tree for water retention avoiding permitting contact with the tree trunk.

If your tree is in full sun, water it once a week at a rate of 1 to 2 inches. Dogwood trees can be used in borders, as specimen plants, or as part of a natural screen in any combination.

Conclusion

When most people hear the phrase “dogwood,” they think of the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). The blooming dogwood is native to the Eastern United States and is adaptable to all sections of the state.

The size ranges from 15 to 20 feet tall in the sun (flowering dogwood) to 40 feet tall in the shade (flowering dogwood in the shade).

The species and its geographic location determine the height and spread. The spread maybe even more significant than the altitude.

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