Identification & Lifecycle. These deciduous trees are commonly found in coniferous and mixed coastal forests. Some types of dogwoods look like shrubs as they are small shrubby multi-stemmed plants. The roughleaf dogwood tree is a small flowering tree with dark green oblong, pointed leaves and white summer flower clusters. Cornus kousa is a small deciduous tree 8–12 m (26–39 ft) tall, in the flowering plant family Cornaceae.Common names include kousa, kousa dogwood, Chinese dogwood, Korean dogwood, and Japanese dogwood. The leaves of dogwoods possess a green upper surface, with the underneath surface of the leaves having a much paler appearance. Fragrant creamy-white flowers bloom in spring and summer. Sometimes recent tree trimming work can make it more difficult to use other identifiers, which further underscores the usefulness of the leaf. Gray dogwood typically grows 10 – 15 ft. (3 -4.5 m) tall, with similar spread. Dogwood bark: The wedding cake tree has smooth greenish-gray bark with shallow grooves. Let’s look in more detail at some of the best dogwood trees for growing in front or backyards. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! From there they spread to the leaves, young shoots and then the fruits. Some species of dogwood trees have poisonous berry-like drupe, and some are edible. During autumn the leaves turn red-purple in color. The small- to medium-sized dogwood tree has a rounded crown that is attractive in all seasons. Dogwoods are elegant, beautiful ornamental trees with several seasonal displays. Red osier dogwood is a common ornamental multi-stemmed shrub that provides decorative element with its red twigs in the winter. Scaly bark of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Some species of tree produce pinkish or red petals, making the flowering tree even more attractive. Begin identifying your tree by … Some leaves could develop necrosis with a weathered look to the outer edges. Take a look, and enrich your knowledge. Bark is dark gray to brown with thin, squarish plates. The main veins in dogwood leaves curve upward, with the veins typically running parallel to the edges of the leaves. On these, the leaves grow in an alternate manner on the twigs. Some say that the leaves of roughleaf dogwood give off a sour milk scent. Flowering dogwood trees have a fast growth rate. Some dogwood berries look like bright scarlet-red grape-like fruits growing in tight clusters. Leaves grow in an opposite arrangement on branches. Mountain dogwood trees grow between 15 and 40 ft. (4.5 – 12 m) tall. The Pacific dogwood has the longest leaves, with the average leaf in the 4- to 6-inch-long range. Dogwood leaves: ‘Wolf Eyes’ Japanese dogwood leaves are variegated lance-shaped leaves with green centers and ivory-colored wavy margins. Flowering dogwood trees bloom from mid-March through May. Dogwood flowers are usually white, but can also be pink or yellow. The horizontal branching creates an attractive rounded crown of oval, pointed leaves. Spores are spread by wind to surrounding dogwoo… The pagoda dogwood is a large flowering multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. It is a plant native to East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. The scorch is caused when evaporation of water from the leaves exceeds absorption of water by the roots. Our illustrated, step-by-step process makes it easy to identify a tree simply by the kinds of leaves it produces. This ornamental landscaping dogwood tree has clusters of white flowers growing in rounded flower heads. Depending on the age of the Kousa dogwood, the trees take on a different appearance. In summer, the Kousa dogwood grows dense green foliage that turns bright red in the fall. Leaf scorch is a common problem in dogwood tress, and a sign that your tree is under water stress. Dogwood bark: Mountain dogwood tree bark is smooth and gray with patches of white. Avid gardeners have an indepth knowledge about the flowering bushes, shrubs, and trees. Dogwood leaves: Giant dogwood tree leaves are broad oval leaves up to 6” (15 cm) long. Dogwood leaves: Bloodtwig dogwood leaves have distinctive curved veins in the ovate green leaves. Most dogwood species have opposite leaves, while a few, such as Cornus alternifolia and C. controversa, have their leaves alternate. Some spots may have a purple-colored rim to them. Leaves may also have necrotic veins and leaf margins, and large necrotic blotches. The distinctive bark of dogwood trees makes these trees easy to identify. After the large shrubs or small trees are established, you only need to water them regularly on hot summer days. This makes small dogwood trees or shrubs suitable for compact gardens or for growing as a lawn plant. Descriptions and pictures of dogwoods will help identify the best trees for growing in your backyard. Leaf Identification | Identify Trees by Their Leaves. Stiff dogwood is a small flowering tree or large shrub with multiple trunks. The distinctive feature of this small dogwood is the pinkish-white flowers with pointed white petals (bracts). The dogwood leaves are oppositely arranged and are 1.5 – 3.2 “(4–8 cm)  long. The pagoda dogwood grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 7.6 m) tall. Dogwood Tree Diseases Flower and Leaf Diseases Spot Anthracnose: This infection is caused by the fungus Elsinoe corni. Pacific dogwood has the widest leaves of the American dogwoods, with the typical leaf in the 1.5- to 3-inch wide range, according to “Trees of North America.” Flowering dogwood is next in terms of width, with some leaves 2.5 inches wide. Powdery mildew is a disease which is common on many ornamental trees and shrubs, including dogwoods. The simple leaves grow oppositely on stems. At the same time as the fruits (drupes) develop during the summer months, Flowering dogwood grows new flower buds for next spring. Bark on flowering dogwood trees is one of its distinctive identifying features. However, for now, let’s start building your identification muscles by looking at the easiest way to identify a particular broadleaf tree: by its leaves. ‘Wolf Eyes’ dogwood is a small tree or multi stemmed shrub which is a smaller cultivar of the popular Cornus kousa tree. The symptoms first develop in the dogwood tree’s leaves. When masses of flowers bloom during April and May, the dogwood is a stunning tree in backyards. Your email address will not be published. This shrubby dogwood has a rounded habit and it spreads through underground rhizomes that send up suckers. The red-osier dogwood and rough-leaf dogwood leaves fall between 1.5 and 3.5 inches long, with alternate-leaf dogwood slightly larger, some making it to lengths of 4.5 inches. After flowering, evergreen dogwoods produce sweet, edible red berry-like fruits. One of the most common species, and the one about which you’ve most likely heard, is the Flowering Dogwood. The dark-green leaves turn a dark purple color in the fall. The “National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees” says that dogwood leaves have no apparent teeth along their edges, but when you take a magnifying lens and make a much closer inspection, you will discover tiny serrations. Mature pagoda dogwoods have a flat-topped crown. The Cornus kousa ‘Greensleeves’ is a variegated variety of dogwood with bright yellow and green colors. As the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on foliage between July and September. Their oval to heart-shaped leaves deepen to crimson and orange in fall. Dogwood leaves: Red osier dogwood leaves are dark green with paler dull green underside and are 2 – 4.7″ (5–12 cm) long. Then, see if the leaves are elongated oval shapes with smooth edges and a pointed tip. The flowering dogwood tree is a small- to medium-sized deciduous tree growing between 10 and 30 ft. (5 – 10 m). Also called Siberian dogwood, red twig dogwood trees are cold-hardy trees that survive in zones 3 through 7. Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) young tree (left), leaves and flowers (right). Many people rate flowering dogwoods as the most appealing of all the native North American flowering trees. The Pacific dogwood has the longest leaves, with the average leaf in the 4- to 6-inch-long range. The dogwood leaves are ovate to oblong shape and grow opposite. Dogwood leaves: Red twig dogwood plant leaves are ovate to lanceolate with a rounded base and smooth margins. As the dogwood matures, the bark becomes scaly and flaky before developing into block-like patterns. All Rights Reserved. The lengths of dogwood tree leaves have some variation between species. Ascochyta cornicola is a fungus that appears on dogwood foliage after unusually rainy springs, attacking new leaves as they emerge. Dogwood flowers are typically white, but some species produce yellow, pale red or pink blossoms. Required fields are marked *, Types of Fruit Trees With Pictures (Including Low Maintenance Self-Pollinating Varieties), Types of Redbud Trees: Eastern, Western, Chinese, and More (Pictures), Sycamore Trees: Leaves, Bark, Types - Identification Guide (Pictures), Maple Trees: Types, Leaves, Bark - Identification Guide (Pictures). Dogwood tree leaves are identified by their elongated oval shape, visible curving veins, and smooth edges. Cornus drummondii grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.6 – 7.6 m) tall. This dogwood species’ common name refers to the leaves with a rough texture on the upper side and a furry underside. Dogwood leaves: Mountain dogwood tree leaves are large elongated oval, glossy green leaves with pronounced veins. There are over 50 species within the Cornus, or Dogwood, genus. Mature trees can grow to 10m. Widely cultivated as an ornamental, it is naturalized in New … Click on leaf images to enlarge. Missouri’s official state tree, it presents lovely boughs of white inflorescences in springtime forests. Flowering dogwoods thrive in USDA zones 5 through 9. However, the dogwood blooms into life in later winter, producing clusters of yellow flowers before the leaves appear. The one notable exception is the alternate-leaf dogwood tree. A: We have had several samples and questions come into the office over the past couple of weeks dealing with white powdery growth on dogwood leaves. Flowering dogwood trees are popular ornamental trees for residential garden landscapes. Dogwood leaves are classified as simple tree leaves that grow in an opposite arrangement on stems. Other names for the Kousa dogwood tree are Japanese dogwood or Chinese dogwood. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ leaves and flowers. Dogwood berries. The simple shrub leaves grow in an opposite arrangement on twigs. Some dogwood species are particularly easy to identify during the spring, while their flowers are in bloom. Although the fruits look like large berries, they are drupes similar to cherries. The flowering dogwood leaf can grow to 5 inches in length. Flowers may or may not feature large bracts like those of the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). Bloodtwig dogwood grows in warm sunny locations and is native to Europe. A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. After flowering, small black drupes on red stalks appear. Dogwood is a small broadleaf shrub, typically found growing along woodland edges and in hedgerows of southern England. Growing as a large shrub, Cornelian cherry dogwoods are ideal if you want to plant them as a flowering hedge plant or screen. Dogwood leaves: Roughleaf dogwood tree leaves have an oval shape with a rounded base and pointed tip. Wedding cake tree (Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’). They add decorative touch to any garden. Read this article on shrub identification of leaf, and get the different types of leaf anatomy for various shrubs. Flowering dogwood trees thrive in full sun and provide year-long interest in residential gardens. The small-medium tree grows between 15 and 30 ft. (4.5 – 10 m) tall. After pollination, they produce a type of fruit known as a drupe. To identify dogwood trees, look for their hard, grayish bark that looks like alligator skin. Dogwood bark: ‘Wolf Eyes’ Japanese dogwood bark is scaly and exfoliating. Dogwood bark: Kousa dogwood tree bark is thin and smooth that peels to give the bark a distinctive mottled appearance. To identify dogwood trees, look for their hard, grayish bark that looks like alligator skin. Wedding cake dogwood trees are smaller than the giant dogwood species tree and grow up to 25 ft. (8 m) tall. The horizontally-growing branches produce clusters of creamy-white flowers and large ovate shiny green leaves. Most dogwood trees produce white flowers, however it can vary from species to species. The kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is also known as the Japanese dogwood. The spread of the crown is usually more expansive than the tree is tall. As with all species of dogwood, the leaves have smooth margins and a pointed tip. Kousa dogwood (C. kousa) and hybrids of kousa and native dogwood (C. florida) are resistant to anthracnose and decline and should be used to replace dying trees. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, backlit dogwood leaves image by Jorge Moro from, Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Flowering Dogwood. The single-stemmed tree has a slender trunk with a spreading rounded canopy of layered branches. To prevent a borer attack, plant your dogwood in shade, not direct sun, and provide adequate irrigation to avoid water stress. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. This shrubby plant has clusters of small white flowers, oval-pointed leaves, and distinctive red bark. The Kousa dogwood tree is a small to medium flowering shade tree that produces multitudes of large white star-shaped flowers in spring. Flowering dogwood is a beautiful shrub to small tree with a straggling, spreading crown. Also, pronounced curved veins are very distinguishable on dogwood leaves. Trees should also be sprayed once in the fall after the leaves have changed color, but before leaf drop. Dogwood leaves: Flowering dogwood tree leaves are oval-shaped with delicate noticeable veins. The leaves grow opposite each other on the twigs on these types of dogwoods. This is one of the dogwoods’ characteristics that give the tree appeal in a winter garden landscape. To grow dogwood trees, plant them in partial shade or full sun. This multi-trunk, small flowering dogwood has a vase-shaped growth that gradually becomes rounded. Dogwood leaves: Gray dogwood has green leaves that are lance-shaped and have fewer veins than other dogwood species. Initial indications include tan spotting along the upper portion of the leaves. Flowering dogwood tree has clusters of greenish-yellow flowers surrounded by large, broad, rounded white petals which are actually bracts (modifies leaves). They have visible veins that curve parallel to the margins. The flowers on roughleaf dogwoods don’t have the showy white bracts of some popular garden dogwoods. Dogwood bark: Bloodtwig dogwoods are multi-stemmed shrubs with stiff branches covered with red-colored bark. Your email address will not be published. This kind has stiff hairs present on the upper part of the leaf and softer ones beneath that give the underside a woolly texture. These magnificent dogwood trees grow up to 40 ft. (12 m) tall with a similar size spread. The petals can be more narrow than the one pictured, but would hardly be described as skinny. 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