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Flowering Dogwood Aftercare in the Pacific Northwest

Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood tree, Cornus florida & Cornus kousa, mature specimen — species reference for Pacific Arboriculture homeowners in Auburn and the south Puget Sound.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida & Cornus kousa). Photo: A. Barra, CC BY 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornus_florida.jpg
Cornus florida & Cornus kousa
  • Showy spring bracts in white or pink — a classic flowering ornamental tree
  • Excellent fall color: red-purple foliage and bright red berries
  • Layered, horizontal branching habit creates a distinctive silhouette
  • Kousa Dogwood is more disease-resistant in the PNW than the Eastern species

Flowering Dogwood is one of the most beloved small ornamental trees in North America — the showy spring bracts (often mistaken for petals) emerge in white, pink, or red and float across the layered horizontal canopy. Cornus florida is the classic Eastern Flowering Dogwood; Cornus kousa is the Asian counterpart, valued in the south Puget Sound for stronger anthracnose resistance. Both species deliver excellent red-purple fall color and bright red berries that attract birds.

Planting and Care

  1. Planting. Plant in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with morning sun and afternoon shade in the south Puget Sound — dogwoods stress in afternoon sun on hot inland sites. Dig a planting hole twice as wide as the rootball, set the trunk flare at grade, backfill with native soil, water in deeply, and mulch.
  2. Watering. Deep weekly watering through the first three growing seasons — dogwoods are slow to establish and stress quickly under drought. Once established, supplemental water during the south Puget Sound’s late-summer dry stretch maintains health and bloom quality.
  3. Fertilizing. Light feeders. A single light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring is appropriate during establishment years. Mature dogwoods in healthy soil rarely need fertilization.
  4. Pruning. Prune lightly in late spring after bloom. Remove only dead, damaged, or crossing branches — dogwoods do not respond well to heavy pruning, and the layered horizontal silhouette is the primary ornamental feature.

Cornus kousa (Kousa Dogwood) is generally a better choice than Cornus florida (Eastern Flowering Dogwood) in south Puget Sound landscapes — stronger anthracnose resistance and better tolerance for the regional climate. Plant in afternoon-shade sites in Auburn, Kent, Federal Way, and Tacoma.

Need a Pacific Arboriculture ISA Certified Arborist to look at the flowering dogwood on the property?
Call (206) 909-2170 or request a free quote — Pacific Arboriculture provides residential and commercial tree services across Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tacoma, Federal Way, Puyallup, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Maple Valley, and the wider south Puget Sound.

Return to Deciduous trees aftercare.

Flowering Dogwood Specs

Mature Height15–25 ft
Mature Width15–25 ft
SunlightPartial Shade, Full Sun
Growth RateSlow to Moderate
Botanical NameCornus florida / Cornus kousa
Planting questions?
(206) 909-2170
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