Cornus florida var. rubra
Pink Flowering Dogwood

The variety rubra is a group of Flowering Dogwoods with beautiful pink bracts of varying intensities. Flowering Dogwoods are one of the finest small trees, interesting at almost every season, and with a branching pattern that is distinctly horizontal. Widely adaptable, but material of different geographic origin varies widely in hardiness, and the flowers of variety rubra tend to be less cold hardy than those of the white flowering type. Fruit is an important food supply for native birds and other animals. Not extremely drought-tolerant, but useful in most parts of the Midwest. Dogwood borer and dogwood anthracnose (caused by Discula destructiva) can be problematic, especially in the Eastern and Southern US. Difficult to transplant. Not pollution tolerant. Contrary to common perceptions, Cornus florida grows fine in full sun once established (might need a bit of shade in the South).