Cornus florida

Origin: Eastern regions of North America

Botanical characteristics: It is a large branchy shrub or small deciduous tree, with an elegant and upright growth habit. It is slow-growing, up to 10 mt high. Interesting peculiarities are its showy flowering and its colourful foliage in autumn. Small greenish-yellow flowers bloom in spring, surrounded by four large white bracts similar to petals. It is followed by fleshy fruits similar to strawberries. Leaves are oval-ovate, often twisted and become reddish-purple in autumn.

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: They prefer rich fertile well-drained neutral to slightly acid soils, in sun or partial shade.

Use: It is used in gardens as single plant, in flowerbeds with other lower shrubs.