Cornus florida 'Red Pygmy' - Red Pygmy Flowering Dogwood

Lovely pinkish-red bracts in spring cover this truly dwarf version of the species, has an upright habit; attractive red fruit in late summer, good fall color; ideal as a small accent in the border

Height: 6 feet. Spread: 6 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 5a.

Ornamental features

Red Pygmy Dwarf Red Flowering Dogwood features showy bracted pink flowers with rose bracts held atop the branches in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding dark red in the fall. It produces red berries from early to late fall. The warty gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape

Red Pygmy Dwarf Red Flowering Dogwood is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

Recommended for: Accent, Mass Planting, Hedges/Screening, Container Planting.

Planting and growing

Red Pygmy Dwarf Red Flowering Dogwood will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 25 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth, but will die in standing water. It is very fussy about its soil conditions and must have rich, acidic soils to ensure success, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.