The exfoliating bark peels in places. Dogwood bark: Red twig dogwood plants have thin stems that become bright red in late fall and winter. This article is a comprehensive guide to the most popular and spectacular varieties of dogwood trees and shrubs. Dogwood bark: Bloodtwig dogwoods are multi-stemmed shrubs with stiff branches covered with red-colored bark. You can identify a dogwood by looking for smooth-edged leaves with veins that curve parallel to the margins (edges). Then, see if the leaves are elongated oval shapes with smooth edges and a pointed tip. The simple leaves grow in an opposite arrangement on reddish-colored or green stems. Descriptions and pictures of dogwoods will help identify the best trees for growing in your backyard. Giant dogwood trees are medium-sized deciduous trees with a rounded growth habit. Cornelian cherry dogwood leaves, fruits and flowers, Young tree of mountain dogwood and flowers. Some dogwood types produce pink and yellow flowers. Fragrant creamy-white flowers bloom in spring and summer. Dogwood bark: Evergreen dogwood tree has brown-gray bark with shallow scales. 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. Dogwood bark: ‘Wolf Eyes’ Japanese dogwood bark is scaly and exfoliating. Dogwood leaves: Cornelian cherry dogwood leaves grow up to 5” (12 cm) long in an oblong shape. Bloodtwig dogwood grows in warm sunny locations and is native to Europe. Some species of dogwood trees have poisonous berry-like drupe, and some are edible. The kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) is also known as the Japanese dogwood. Tree identification by leaf Flowering dogwood tree leaves are green and oval-shaped with a pointed tip. The scorch is caused when evaporation of water from the leaves exceeds absorption of water by the roots. The pagoda dogwood grows between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 7.6 m) tall. Dogwoods are beautiful flowering deciduous trees and shrubs with distinctive flowers, berries, bark, and leaves. The small-medium tree grows between 15 and 30 ft. (4.5 – 10 m) tall. Rough-leaf, alternate-leaf and red-osier dogwood leaves seldom exceed 2 inches in width; red-osier dogwood leaves can be as narrow as just 5/8ths of an inch. The dogwood plant has dark glossy green foliage made up of pointed oval leaves. The one notable exception is the alternate-leaf dogwood tree. Here are some of the types of small dogwood trees or shrubs. The small white flowers are grown in rounded clusters, and they give way to immature green fruits that turn white when ripened. leaf scorch of dogwood. As the dogwood matures, the bark becomes scaly and flaky before developing into block-like patterns. Examples: Ash, Maple, and Olive. This shrubby dogwood has a rounded habit and it spreads through underground rhizomes that send up suckers. "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees"; Elbert Little; 2008, "Trees of North America"; C. Frank Brockman; 1996. However, some varieties of dogwood have a relatively short or dwarf growing size, and some of them have shrubby growth habit. All Viburnum species have opposite leaves A phraseopposite leaves. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Trees should also be sprayed once in the fall after the leaves have changed color, but before leaf drop. So, if you have a dogwood tree growing in your backyard and you don’t know its species, you shouldn’t consume the drupes. Left to right: Fruits of Cornus mas, C. alba ‘Sibirica’, C. kousa, and C. sanguinea). The symptoms first develop in the dogwood tree’s leaves. To prevent a borer attack, plant your dogwood in shade, not direct sun, and provide adequate irrigation to avoid water stress. The Cornelian cherry dogwood species is a small flowering tree or medium to large deciduous shrub with tiny flowers, green oblong leaves, and red berries. Dogwood leaves: Mountain dogwood tree leaves are large elongated oval, glossy green leaves with pronounced veins. The Mountain dogwood is a medium-sized flowering tree that produces large star-shaped flowers and has broad oval 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. Notice the leaf shape and venation which help to identify this medium-sized tree. Dogwood bark: Kousa dogwood tree bark is thin and smooth that peels to give the bark a distinctive mottled appearance. Some say that the leaves of roughleaf dogwood give off a sour milk scent. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, backlit dogwood leaves image by Jorge Moro from, Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Flowering Dogwood. These magnificent dogwood trees grow up to 40 ft. (12 m) tall with a similar size spread. The lengths of dogwood tree leaves have some variation between species. The single-stemmed tree has a slender trunk with a spreading rounded canopy of layered branches. However, the dogwood blooms into life in later winter, producing clusters of yellow flowers before the leaves appear. Other dogwood types have larger and more open clusters of petals. Blight begins with small, brown-centered, gray spots that appear on leaf surfaces and distort leaf growth. Fall leaf color of Dogwood is more vivid in USDA hardiness zones: 5 through 8A. Dogwood leaves: Kousa dogwood tree leaves are dark green and elliptic-ovate-shaped, growing up to 4” (10 cm) long and wide. When masses of flowers bloom during April and May, the dogwood is a stunning tree in backyards. The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is the state tree of Virginia and Missouri. The dogwood leaves are oppositely arranged and are 1.5 – 3.2 “(4–8 cm)  long. Others can be purple-black or white. 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 leaves are classified as simple tree leaves that grow in an opposite arrangement on stems. The petals can be more narrow than the one pictured, but would hardly be described as skinny. Dogwood is a small broadleaf shrub, typically found growing along woodland edges and in hedgerows of southern England. Dogwood Identification. Fall leaf color on most sun grown plants will be red to maroon. Some types of dogwoods look like shrubs as they are small shrubby multi-stemmed plants. Infected leaves exhibit marginal leaf scorch, dead patches, reddish discoloration, yellowing and premature defoliation. The first parts of the tree to be affected are the flower bracts (petals). Additional Resources. This dogwood shrub has dark green leaves that turn reddish-purple in autumn. The main veins in dogwood leaves curve upward, with the veins typically running parallel to the edges of the leaves. Opposite leaves (whether simple or compound) are located directly across from one another on the same stem. Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’). To identify dogwood trees, look for their hard, grayish bark that looks like alligator skin. Flowering dogwood tree has clusters of greenish-yellow flowers surrounded by large, broad, rounded white petals which are actually bracts (modifies leaves). Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ leaves and flowers. Missouri’s official state tree, it presents lovely boughs of white inflorescences in springtime forests. Dogwood bark: Giant dogwood tree bark is greenish-brown or gray with a smooth feel and shallow veins. The bark is grey and smooth with shallow ridges which develop with age, and its twigs are smooth, straight and slim. Ascochyta cornicola is a fungus that appears on dogwood foliage after unusually rainy springs, attacking new leaves as they emerge. Gray dogwood is a large deciduous shrub that is also called northern swamp dogwood and panicle dogwood. This makes small dogwood trees or shrubs suitable for compact gardens or for growing as a lawn plant. The identification of the leaves of dogwood trees hinges on recognizing subtle differences in their features. Dogwood leaves: Red twig dogwood plant leaves are ovate to lanceolate with a rounded base and smooth margins. Most dogwood species have opposite leaves, while a few, such as Cornus alternifolia and C. controversa, have their leaves alternate. The pagoda dogwood is a large flowering multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. The distinctive feature of this small dogwood is the pinkish-white flowers with pointed white petals (bracts). To identify dogwood trees, look for their hard, grayish bark that looks like alligator skin. Dogwood leaves are smooth above and below, except for the aptly named rough leaf-dogwood. Stiff dogwood is a small flowering tree or large shrub with multiple trunks. Although they are classed as a small tree, most specimens grow as multi-stemmed shrubs. One of the outstanding features of Cornus alba is its spectacular red winter bark. In the fall, the drupes mature to a bright red color. Identification & Lifecycle. Avid gardeners have an indepth knowledge about the flowering bushes, shrubs, and trees. 'Elegantissima' red twig dogwood. Synonyms are Benthamia kousa and Cynoxylon kousa. Depending on the age of the Kousa dogwood, the trees take on a different appearance. Flowers from stiff dogwood trees give off an unpleasant smell. After flowering, evergreen dogwoods produce sweet, edible red berry-like fruits. 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. Take a look, and enrich your knowledge. Growing as a large shrub, Cornelian cherry dogwoods are ideal if you want to plant them as a flowering hedge plant or screen. The masses of white flowers contrast with light green foliage to create a magnificent shade tree. Flowering dogwood trees bloom from mid-March through May. This is one of the dogwoods’ characteristics that give the tree appeal in a winter garden landscape. On these, the leaves grow in an alternate manner on the twigs. ovate to lanceolate, 3 – 4.7″ (8 – 12 cm) long, and arranged in opposite pairs. Anthracnose Identification . 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. 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