Dogwoods are beautiful flowering deciduous trees and shrubs with distinctive flowers, berries, bark, and leaves. Most dogwood species have opposite leaves, while a few, such as Cornus alternifolia and C. controversa, have their leaves alternate. Some types of dogwoods look like shrubs as they are small shrubby multi-stemmed plants. Dogwood bark: ‘Wolf Eyes’ Japanese dogwood bark is scaly and exfoliating. Gray dogwood is a large deciduous shrub that is also called northern swamp dogwood and panicle dogwood. Dogwood bark: Roughleaf dogwood tree bark is smooth and grayish-brown on immature trees. This tree’s visual appeal is its attractive smooth exfoliating bark growing in brown, tan, and gray patterns in winter. Dogwood bark: Mountain dogwood tree bark is smooth and gray with patches of white. The dogwood plant has dark glossy green foliage made up of pointed oval leaves. Leaves on giant dogwood stems grow in an alternate arrangement. 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. Dogwood bark: The wedding cake tree has smooth greenish-gray bark with shallow grooves. Sometimes referred to as the Chinese dogwood, this Asian cousin to our native flowering dogwood can be used as a specimen plant or in shrub borders. Although the small decorative trees thrive in partial shade, they will grow well in full sun if you water them regularly. Also called the European cornel dogwood, Cornelian cherry dogwood grows between 16 and 40 ft. (5 – 12 m) tall. These species vary wildly, from shrubs to deciduous temperate trees and evergreens. Dogwood bark: Evergreen dogwood tree has brown-gray bark with shallow scales. Compared to other species of dogwood, the Cornelian cherry doesn’t have showy spring flowers. By Leaf Structure: Simple and Compound Leaves Dogwood flowers are typically white, but some species produce yellow, pale red or pink blossoms. Dogwood leaves: Cornelian cherry dogwood leaves grow up to 5” (12 cm) long in an oblong shape. The simple leaves grow oppositely on stems. Dogwood bark: New bark of gray dogwood is tan-brown that turns to gray as the twigs mature. Flowering dogwood tree has clusters of greenish-yellow flowers surrounded by large, broad, rounded white petals which are actually bracts (modifies leaves). Dogwood Anthracnose is caused by the fungus officially known as Discula Destructiva, and it might be helpful if I describe some of the symptoms. Dogwoods have simple, untoothed leaves with the veins curving distinctively as they approach the leaf margins. After flowering, evergreen dogwoods produce sweet, edible red berry-like fruits. After the small yellow flowers finish blooming, red edible fruits appear. This dogwood shrub has dark green leaves that turn reddish-purple in autumn. Flowering dogwood trees are small to medium size trees. Red twig dogwoods grow up to 10 ft. (3 m) high. Of the five types of trees from the dogwood family (Cornaceae) that have large distributions through portions of the United States, the red-osier dogwood has the largest range. The spread of the crown is usually more expansive than the tree is tall. Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) young tree (left), leaves and flowers (right). Flowering dogwood trees bloom from mid-March through May. The major veins extend all the way to the leaf margin. New growth is covered with a fine, white, powdery coating, typically on the upper surfaces of the leaves. 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. This makes small dogwood trees or shrubs suitable for compact gardens or for growing as a lawn plant. Dogwood bark: Kousa dogwood tree bark is thin and smooth that peels to give the bark a distinctive mottled appearance. Growing as a large shrub, Cornelian cherry dogwoods are ideal if you want to plant them as a flowering hedge plant or screen. Dogwood bark looks scaly, and it peels easily. Dogwood flowers have four parts. This shrubby dogwood has a rounded habit and it spreads through underground rhizomes that send up suckers. The flowering dogwood leaf can grow to 5 inches in length. Leaf and flower blight Irregular, brown, wrinkled patches form on flower bracts and leaves in the spring. This article is a comprehensive guide to the most popular and spectacular varieties of dogwood trees and shrubs. Notice the leaf shape and venation which help to identify this medium-sized tree. The horizontal branching creates an attractive rounded crown of oval, pointed leaves. The pagoda dogwood is a large flowering multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. Also called red willow, redstem dogwood or red twig dogwood, red osier is a fast growing medium to large sized deciduous shrub that grows 5 – 13 ft. (1.5–4 m) tall and 10 – 16 ft. (3–5 m) wide. Spores are spread by wind to surrounding dogwoo… Most dogwood species have a rounded to flat crown that requires little—if any—pruning. Flowering dogwood is the common name for the species Cornus florida. The single-stemmed tree has a slender trunk with a spreading rounded canopy of layered branches. The roughleaf dogwood tree is a small flowering tree with dark green oblong, pointed leaves and white summer flower clusters. Your email address will not be published. Initial indications include tan spotting along the upper portion of the leaves. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years. Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' features gray-green leaves edged in … Most dogwood trees have opposite leaves, meaning that two leaves are directly across from each other on a branch or branchlet. Examples: Ash, Maple, and Olive. Dogwood leaves help to make the trees popular as ornamentals because of their colors. The first sign of infection can often be seen on the leaves, where you might see tan spots that develop purple rims. Dogwood leaves turn beautiful reddish color in autumn. Dogwood leaves are smooth above and below, except for the aptly named rough leaf-dogwood. You can identify a dogwood by looking for smooth-edged leaves with veins that curve parallel to the margins (edges). Dogwood bark: Giant dogwood tree bark is greenish-brown or gray with a smooth feel and shallow veins. One leaf occurs at each node on the limb, rather than two emerging across from one another as in the other dogwood species. Flowering dogwoods thrive in USDA zones 5 through 9. Dogwood berries. Dogwood leaves are classified as simple tree leaves that grow in an opposite arrangement on stems. Fall leaf color of Dogwood is more vivid in USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 8A. The long, lanceolate leaves turn a deep red or purple color in the fall. In spring, showy white flowers appear to create an eye-catching floral display. The dogwood leaves are ovate to oblong shape and grow opposite. Dogwood trees are easy to recognize due to their characteristic bark, smooth oval leaves, and white flower clusters. One reason why flowering dogwood trees are popular is that they are low-maintenance garden trees. The small white flowers are grown in rounded clusters, and they give way to immature green fruits that turn white when ripened. Mountain dogwood trees grow between 15 and 40 ft. (4.5 – 12 m) tall. The flowering trees are typically single-trunk decorative trees with white spring flowers and green summer foliage that turn reddish-purple in the fall. Adult dogwood sawflies emerge from late May through July and lay eggs on dogwood leaves. The simple shrub leaves grow in an opposite arrangement on twigs. Evergreen dogwood (Cornus capitata) tree and flowers. The fruit is a round attractive white berry, 0.2 – 0.35″ (5–9 mm) in size. The small- to medium-sized dogwood tree has a rounded crown that is attractive in all seasons. 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. During autumn the leaves turn red-purple in color. Don’t weed whack close to the base of the tree or otherwise wound its bark, since wounds provide an entryway for the borers. Dogwood flowers are usually white, but can also be pink or yellow. The evergreen dogwood tree is an ornamental tree that grows up to 40 ft. (12 m) tall. Read this article on shrub identification of leaf, and get the different types of leaf anatomy for various shrubs. Dogwood leaves: The wedding cake tree leaves are ovate-oblong with dark green centers surrounded by cream-colored margins. Avid gardeners have an indepth knowledge about the flowering bushes, shrubs, and trees. Dogwood leaves: Bloodtwig dogwood leaves have distinctive curved veins in the ovate green leaves. The leaves of dogwoods possess a green upper surface, with the underneath surface of the leaves having a much paler appearance. The variegated giant dogwood tree is one of the most stunning dogwood trees for gardens. The dogwood leaves are oppositely arranged and are 1.5 – 3.2 “(4–8 cm)  long. "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees"; Elbert Little; 2008, "Trees of North America"; C. Frank Brockman; 1996. Dogwood trees are easy to recognize due to their characteristic bark, smooth oval leaves, and white flower clusters. 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. The bark is grey and smooth with shallow ridges which develop with age, and its twigs are smooth, straight and slim. Take a look, and enrich your knowledge. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, backlit dogwood leaves image by Jorge Moro from, Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Flowering Dogwood. Leaves grow in an opposite arrangement on branches. The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is the state tree of Virginia and Missouri. Although they are classed as a small tree, most specimens grow as multi-stemmed shrubs. Others can be purple-black or white. Dogwood leaves: Flowering dogwood tree leaves are oval-shaped with delicate noticeable veins. In summer, the Kousa dogwood grows dense green foliage that turns bright red in the fall. On these, the leaves grow in an alternate manner on the twigs. Stiff dogwood trees grow up to 15 ft. (4.5 m) high. The Kousa dogwood is a handsome, small- to medium-sized tree reaching a mature height of 30 feet. The Mountain dogwood is a medium-sized flowering tree that produces large star-shaped flowers and has broad oval leaves. Dogwood leaves: Gray dogwood has green leaves that are lance-shaped and have fewer veins than other dogwood species. This is one of the dogwoods’ characteristics that give the tree appeal in a winter garden landscape. The dogwood bark has a distinct scaly appearance. Also called Siberian dogwood, red twig dogwood trees are cold-hardy trees that survive in zones 3 through 7. The small-medium tree grows between 15 and 30 ft. (4.5 – 10 m) tall. The Pacific dogwood has the longest leaves, with the average leaf in the 4- to 6-inch-long range. However, the dogwood blooms into life in later winter, producing clusters of yellow flowers before the leaves appear. Examples: Hawthorn, Sycamore, Oak, Sassafras, Mulberry, and Dogwood. Dogwood tree leaves are identified by their elongated oval shape, visible curving veins, and smooth edges. Diagnosing Problems of Flowering Dogwood; Flowering Dogwood Trees: Selection, Care, and Management of Disease Problems; Dogwood … Dogwood leaves: Kousa dogwood tree leaves are dark green and elliptic-ovate-shaped, growing up to 4” (10 cm) long and wide. Leaves may also have necrotic veins and leaf margins, and large necrotic blotches. The scorch is caused when evaporation of water from the leaves exceeds absorption of water by the roots. As a small tree or large shrub, the ‘Wolf Eyes’ Japanese dogwood grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. Tree Identification Field Guide. They typically have four petals ranging in color from white to pink, and they are found on the branches of the trees, near the leaves. Most species of dogwood are fast-growing ornamental trees that are ideal for garden landscapes. Flowering Dogwood Trees and Shrubs: Types, Leaves, Bark – Identification (With Pictures). The distinctive bark of dogwood trees makes these trees easy to identify. The masses of white flowers contrast with light green foliage to create a magnificent shade tree. Also called common dogwood, bloodtwig dogwood is a large ornamental shrub with fiery colored twigs and stems. The symptoms first develop in the dogwood tree’s leaves. Then, see if the leaves are elongated oval shapes with smooth edges and a pointed tip. Scaly bark of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). The alternate-leaf dogwood leaves change to reds and yellows. Flowering dogwoods, Pacific dogwoods, red-osier dogwoods and rough-leaf dogwoods turn red. The kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is also known as the Japanese dogwood. Mountain dogwood trees are native to the Western United States and related to the Cornus florida tree. Dogwood leaves: Mountain dogwood tree leaves are large elongated oval, glossy green leaves with pronounced veins. Leaves on this dogwood species grow in an alternate leaf arrangement. The Kousa dogwood tree is a small to medium flowering shade tree that produces multitudes of large white star-shaped flowers in spring. Blight begins with small, brown-centered, gray spots that appear on leaf surfaces and distort leaf growth. Ascochyta cornicola is a fungus that appears on dogwood foliage after unusually rainy springs, attacking new leaves as they emerge. The lengths of dogwood tree leaves have some variation between species. Your email address will not be published. In the fall, the drupes mature to a bright red color. Dogwoods trees produce berry-like fruit in various colors, shapes and sizes. The pagoda dogwood grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 7.6 m) tall. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Some … Clusters of tiny white flowers bloom in spring and summer before producing dark blue drupes. Most dogwood trees produce white flowers, however it can vary from species to species. All Viburnum species have opposite leaves A phraseopposite leaves. Powdery mildew is a disease which is common on many ornamental trees and shrubs, including dogwoods. Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’). Mature trees can grow to 10m. Pagoda dogwoods have clusters of small creamy-white-colored flowers growing in a flowerhead. Flowers from stiff dogwood trees give off an unpleasant smell. Other names for the Kousa dogwood tree are Japanese dogwood or Chinese dogwood. Some say that the leaves of roughleaf dogwood give off a sour milk scent. Anthracnose Identification . Wedding cake dogwood trees are smaller than the giant dogwood species tree and grow up to 25 ft. (8 m) tall. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ leaves and flowers. As with all species of dogwood, the leaves have smooth margins and a pointed tip. The flowers of red osier dogwood are small and white and grow in clusters. Some dogwood berries look like bright scarlet-red grape-like fruits growing in tight clusters. Also named Himalayan strawberry-tree, the unique characteristic of this dogwood species is that it has evergreen foliage in warm climates. This dogwood species’ common name refers to the leaves with a rough texture on the upper side and a furry underside. The flowers on roughleaf dogwoods don’t have the showy white bracts of some popular garden dogwoods. Dogwood is a small broadleaf shrub, typically found growing along woodland edges and in hedgerows of southern England. Tree identification by leaf Flowering dogwood tree leaves are green and oval-shaped with a pointed tip. In the meantime, however, a better option might be the Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa), which has better resistance to anthracnose and moderate resistance to powdery mildew.Unlike C. florida, Kousa dogwood "flowers" after the leaves appear, so you don't get that fairyland burst of white that's so welcome on an early spring day. Dogwood Identification. These dogwood leaves have a somewhat wrinkled look. 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.