I bought two generic red Dogwoods last week that are 5' and 6.5' tall, and are in 5.5 gallon pots from the store. They are healthy and branched nicely - but the tags say "I love sun" and calls for full sun or at least 6+ hours of sun. I always thought they were understory trees that preferred protection form full sun? I really need to go out an drive around my town to see how people have them situated, but until they bloom I have no idea what to look for. I'm in z6b at an elevation of 2000 ft. in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia. Any ideas if they can take full sun or not? Many thanks!

Yes, Cornus florida can tolerate full sun, as well as be happy as understory trees.

You will find that they will wish to have additional moisture provided in drier seasons, no matter which situation you plant them in.

All Flowering Dogwoods will have an increased flowering display when they have more hours of sunlight. They will be stressed when they have less than adequate moisture.

Only you can decide how you want to use these plants in your landscape, and how much effort and resources you wish to provide to create the results that you want to enjoy.

Thank you John, I've decided to put one where it will get mid-to-late afternoon shade from other trees, and one will be in a full sun location - but both will be where I can easily water them. I'll be interested to see how their growth and blooming differs with the difference in sun but with adequate water. Thank you for responding.

You are welcome.

The early years getting an extensive root system established is often the key. You will likely see many large and old specimens of Flowering Dogwoods around Virginia, but no story is posted saying what effort homeowners and gardeners made to help those trees reach maturity.

Also, there are more pestiferous problems that afflict this species than used to be the case in the past. Thrift and healthy growing conditions go a long way in keeping plants AND gardeners happy with successful results.

Definitely give them good water during the summer months if you want them to succeed! I planted a line of Cornus florida along my very sunny/windy driveway many years ago, outside of my sprinkler zone, and the ones that lived showed stress every year (early fall color, dry mildew on the leaves, slow growth). Since I don't plan to have a sprinkler system there, I have since determined to replace them with Cornus kousa or hybrid flowering dogwoods, that are more hearty against stresses.

Because: that much sun and/or wind IS a stress. They are part-shade loving trees, and only are going to do well in full sun/wind where there is regular watering available.

Such is my theory.

Thank you everyone! (and beautiful photos, John).

SkirtGardener, your comments about wind were very timely. We are having more wind this April than normal, and your comment had me totally rethink the placement of the second tree - so now both will be located in more sheltered areas and I am running water lines to that section of the yard. Thank you!

Glad it was helpful! I've had to learn a lot of things the hard way ever since I got fully into trying to propagate, design, and plant my landscape... which means its taken years to really start. Hope this helps you be successful the first time.

I planted a red Dogwood in my yard about 4 or 5 years ago. Unfortunately, through my neglect and inattention, it all but died. But...it wants to live! It is struggling and keeps leafing out each spring. I am fertilizing and watering it this year like never before. But every time there is new growth some insect decides that it is dinner time! I've given it systemic insecticide as well as spraying it. I don't have the heart to take it out because it is trying so hard to survive! Will see what my TLC this year will do for it next year.


The leader was chewed off a couple of years ago and then the tree started dying back, but always seemed to have one branch that would keep growing. If you look at the base of the tree there is a new branch trying to grow from there which might actually produce another trunk. But only if the bugs will stop chewing the leader.