Flowering Dogwood
Benthamidia florida
A small woodland tree with showy spring bracts, red fruit, and autumn color. Found in a wide variety of dry to moist forests and woodlands, especially over acidic substrates. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you
100
Keystone
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 15–25 feet
- Spread
- 15–30 feet
- Light
- Full sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- Somewhat dry to average
Space about 22.5 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
Dogwood anthracnose. Widespread infection by the dogwood anthracnose fungus has affected this species since the 1980s. Plant caution source
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- March to May
- Fruiting season
- September to October
JFMAMJJASOND
Recorded in 104 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 3
Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.
Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 161 animals.
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- European StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- American GoldfinchCarduelis tristis
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
- Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescens
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Northern FlickerColaptes auratus
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureus
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
118CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Cornus
- Celastrina ladonSpring Azure
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Acleris forbesanaForbes' Acleris
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
- Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Show all 118
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Ancylis muricanaRed-Headed Ancylis
- Ancylis nubeculanaApple Leaf Folder, Little Cloud Ancylis
- Anisota virginiensisPink-striped Oakworm Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips griseaGray Archips
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Archips rileyanaSouthern Ugly-Nest Caterpillar Moth
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Caloptilia belfragellaDogwood Caloptilia
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Celastrina neglectaSummer Azure
- Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Citheronia regalisRoyal Walnut Moth, Hickory Horned Devil
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Epinotia lindanaDiamondback Epinotia, Dogwood Leafroller
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Euchlaena effectaEffective Euchlaena
- Euchlaena irrariaLeast-Marked Euchlaena
- Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
- Euchlaena marginariaOchre Euchlaena
- Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
- Euchlaena tigrinariaMotted Euchlaena
- Eudeilinia herminiataNorthern Eudeilinia [for Eudeilinia herminiata], Dogwood Caterpillar, Southern Eudeilinia [for Eudeilinia luteifera]
- Eugonobapta nivosariaSnowy Geometer
- Eumarozia malachitanaSculptured Moth
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
- Euthyatira pudensDogwood Thyatirid
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
- Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
- Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hydrelia albiferaFragile White Carpet
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypena abalienalisWhite-Lined Bomolocha, White-Lined Snout
- Hypena bijugalisDimorphic Bomolocha, Dimorphic Snout
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
- Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
- Lithophane baileyiBailey's Pinion
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Morrisonia evictaBicolored Woodgrain
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Olethreutes connectumBunchberry Leaffolder
- Olethreutes inornatanaInornate Olethreutes
- Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia garmaniGarman's Quaker
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis canadanaGreen Aspen Leaftier
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
- Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
- Pero morrisonariaMorrison's Pero
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Platypolia mactataAdorable Brocade, Prairie Quaker
- Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Probole nepiasariaHeath Probole
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Rifargia subrotataSmall Heterocampa
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Sphinx chersisGreat Ash Sphinx
- Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
- Zale aeruginosaGreen-Dusted Zale
- Zale undularisBlack Zale
- Caloptilia cornusella
- Carposina ottawana
- Coleophora querciella
- Olethreutes valdanum
- Paralobesia rhoifructana
15BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Cornus
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
4Specialist beesPollen specialists
Pollen specialists · Benthamidia
- Andrena fragilis
- Andrena integra
- Andrena persimulata
- Andrena platyparia
28BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Cornus
- Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
- Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
- Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
- Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Calcarius lapponicusLapland Longspur
- Catharus fuscescensVeery
- Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
- Catharus minimus/bicknelliGray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush
- Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
Show all 28
- Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
- Contopus virensEastern Wood-Pewee
- Empidonax alnorum/trailliiAlder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher)
- Empidonax flaviventrisYellow-bellied Flycatcher
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpecker
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
- Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
- Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
- Sayornis nigricansBlack Phoebe
- Tachycineta bicolorTree Swallow
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
- Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
- Vireo gilvusWarbling Vireo
- Vireo griseusWhite-eyed Vireo
- Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
- Vireo philadelphicusPhiladelphia Vireo
- Vireo solitariusBlue-headed Vireo
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
Songbirds — Eat the fruit
Wild turkey — Eats the fruit
Ruffed grouse — Eats the fruit
Beetles 1
- Molorchus bimaculatus
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Flies 4
- Bombylius pulchellus
- Criorhina umbratilis
- Empis humilis
- Lonchaea aberrans
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Adult butterflies / moths 1
- Thanaos juvenalis
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
Other wasps 1
- Polistes pallipes
Flower visits · Carlinville, Illinois, USA
No records yet · Ants · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Cornaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 5a–9b
- Soil pH
- Acidic
- Flower color
- White
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Several stems
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- September
- Fruit ends
- October
Keep roots cool with mulch and provide drainage. Urban heat and root stress can make it difficult to grow. NC State Extension
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “March to May” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Flower color · “White” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 5–9” · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
- Height · “About 30 feet” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Leaf retention · “Deciduous” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Light · “Full sun, part shade” · Virginia Cooperative Extension (ranked first; Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Virginia Extension published table; original light/moisture categories
- Soil · “medium to moderately dry” · Tennessee Smart Yards (ranked first; Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia DCR Piedmont, Virginia DCR Coastal Plain, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Published Tennessee growing guidance; exact cached scientific heading
- Soil pH · “Acidic” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Spread · “15–30 feet” · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
Recognizing it
Four notched bracts surround tiny true flowers. Opposite leaves have veins curving toward the tip. Identification source
Also known as
Cornus florida
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S5 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Growing cautions
- Harder to grow. Can be tricky to grow in a landscape and challenging in urban settings. NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.
Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications
- NC State Extension