Common Dogwood Trees In Utah (5 Stunning Varieties)

Utah is full of beautiful landscapes and natural wonders that take your breath away. It also has a wide range of plants that add to the state’s scenic beauty. With their beautiful flower displays, the common flowering dogwood trees stand out among the many beautiful plants. 

But did you know that Utah has a few more species of dogwood trees? These trees are members of the dogwood family, which includes approximately 10 genera and 100 species and can be found all over the world, particularly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

In this article, I will walk you through the commonly found dogwood trees in Utah including the native and non-native varieties.

So, let’s get started.

1. Flowering Dogwood

• Common Name: Flowering Dogwood
• Scientific Name: Cornus florida
• Mature Height: Up to 30 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Native to most of the eastern U.S.
• Flowers/Cones: Showy white or deep pink bracts surround yellow flowers.
• Uses: Widely planted as an ornamental tree due to its beautiful flowers, good fall color, and ornamental fruit

Flowering Dogwoods are the most commonly planted dogwood trees in Utah. It is a tiny deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 feet tall. They grow naturally in the shady understory of other trees and are native to most of the eastern United States. It is well-known for its lovely blossoms, vibrant fall color, and decorative fruit.

Flowering Dogwood leaves are opposite, simple, oval-shaped, and bright green above and lighter beneath. They turn scarlet in the autumn. The twigs of the tree are slender, purple, and covered in a white waxy coating.

The blooms are perfect and placed in a 1/2″ wide head surrounded by stunning white or deep pink bracts that appear before the leaves in early April. The fruit is a brilliant red drupe that is approximately a third of an inch long and grows in dense clusters.

Flowering Dogwood bark is thin, dark red-brown, and features little square blocks that make it stand out. The wood is not significant, but it is hard and hefty, with clear but not sharply marked growth rings. The tree tolerates shade well and thrives in the shady understory of other trees.

Flowering Dogwood is a popular ornamental tree in the US due to its lovely blossoms, vibrant fall color, and appealing fruit. It is susceptible to pollution and does not thrive on alkaline soils. It’s worth a shot in a safe environment, especially with some shade.

2. Red-stemmed Dogwood

• Common Name: Red-stemmed Dogwood
• Scientific Name: Cornus sericea
• Mature Height: 5 to 9 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Native
• Flowers/Cones: Clusters of small white flowers
• Uses: Erosion control, wildlife habitat, ornamental garde

The Red-stemmed Dogwood trees are the shortest dogwood trees in Utah. Instead of calling it a tree, it is better known as a shrub due to its height and distinguishing features. This shrub is native to North America and is prized for its brilliant red stems, which offer a splash of color to the landscape during the winter months.

The Red-stemmed Dogwood, which grows between 5 and 9 feet tall, has a spreading habit and arching branches, giving it an attractive and graceful appearance. The oval-shaped leaves are dark green and change a reddish-purple color in the fall, creating a spectacular autumn show.

Clusters of little white flowers emerge in early June, attracting bees and butterflies. These blossoms give place to clusters of white berries that last all winter, providing food for a variety of bird species. The crimson stems of the shrub are especially noticeable at this time of year, providing a striking contrast to the snowy backdrop.

The Red-stemmed Dogwood has functional needs in addition to its aesthetic appeal. Because of its extensive root system, it is excellent for erosion control along stream banks and slopes. The shrub is also a good animal habitat, providing both shelter and food for birds and small mammals. 

3. Kousa Dogwood

• Common Name: Kousa Dogwood
• Scientific Name: Cornus kousa
• Mature Height: 15 to 25 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Non-Native
• Flowers/Cones: Pinkish-white flowers with pointed bracts;
• Uses: Ornamental, shade tree

The Kousa Dogwood is a little tree that is rarely seen in Utah, but it may be an excellent addition to your landscape. It is a lovely tree that may grow up to 25 feet tall and is native to China, Korea, and Japan. It has 2 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide dark green leaves. In the fall, the leaves change from green to a reddish-purple color.

The blossoms of the Kousa Dogwood are one of its most distinguishing characteristics. The Kousa Dogwood, like the flowering dogwood, has pinkish-white flowers with pointed bracts. The blossoms arise several weeks later than the blossoming dogwood and bloom on 2-inch-long stems. The tree also bears little red fruits that resemble raspberries.

The bark of the Kousa Dogwood flakes off over time, leaving bands of brown, tan, and gray behind. The tree is more drought tolerant than the flowering dogwood and does not tolerate high soil pH. It also has a medium shade tolerance, allowing it to grow in partially shaded locations.

The Kousa Dogwood is an excellent landscape tree. It is cold-hardier than blooming dogwood, making it an excellent choice for Utah’s environment. It is hardy in zones 4-8. Although it is not widely planted in Utah, it has considerable potential as an ornamental and shade tree. Consider the Kousa Dogwood if you want a distinctive and lovely tree for your yard.

4. Pagoda Dogwood

• Common Name: Pagoda Dogwood
• Scientific Name: Cornus alternifolia
• Mature Height: 20-30 feet
• Native/Non-Native: Native to the eastern U.S. and Canada
• Flowers/Cones: Yellowish-white flowers in bunches
• Uses: Understory plant in hardwood forests, used for landscaping

Pagoda Dogwood, also known as alternate-leaf dogwood, is a lovely natural tree found in eastern North America and Canada. It may grow up to 30 feet tall and has leaves that gather on the tips of twigs to form a whorled pattern. The leaves are alternating and covered with small hairs below, similar to those of the flowering dogwood.

The tree blooms in late spring with little yellowish-white flowers that develop in bunches. By August, the blossoms had turned into blue-black, waxy drupes approximately 1/2 to 1/3 inch in diameter. The tree enjoys shaded, chilly conditions and is frequently found as an understory plant in hardwood woods.

Although Pagoda Dogwood is a popular tree for landscaping in cooler climates, it is rarely planted in Utah. While not as beautiful as other dogwood kinds, the tree’s distinctive horizontal branch arrangement lends it a pleasing aspect. It is also shade-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for locations with limited sunlight.

5. Cornelian Cherry

• Common Name: Corneliancherry Dogwood
• Scientific Name: Cornus mas
• Mature Height: Small to medium-sized tree
• Native/Non-Native: Non-native
• Flowers/Fruit: Small yellow flowers
• Uses: Edible fruit

Corneliancherry Dogwood, also known as Cornus mas, is a small to medium-sized tree native to western Asia, central and southern Europe, and the Middle East. It is better adaptable to high soil pH and poor conditions than other non-shrub dogwoods. This tree species can be utilized in landscaping and has an intermediate shadow tolerance.

Corneliancherry Dogwood leaves are similar to blooming dogwood leaves, but smaller and hairy on both sides. Its blooms are little but perfectly formed and golden in color, coming before the leaves. The fruit is a cherry-red, rectangular drupe that matures in July and is edible, frequently used in jams and jellies.

This non-native tree species is rarely planted in Utah, yet it may thrive in USDA zones 4-8. This tree species’ fruit is both lovely and tasty, making it an excellent choice for people looking to include an uncommon fruit tree in their yard.

Common Dogwood Trees In Utah – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s go through some of the most frequently asked questions related to commonly planted dogwood trees in Utah.

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Common Dogwood Trees In Utah – Sources

The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.

1. Trees & Shrubs In Yard And  Garden, Utah State University Extension
2. Native & Non-Native Tree Identification, Utah State University Forestry Extension.
3. Native Plants, Utah Native Plant Society.
4. A Guide To The Trees Of Utah & Intermountain West, Book By Michael Kuhns, Utah State University Press.