McCoy Horticultural | Native Plant at a Glance – Cornus florida

**May 2020: Cornus florida, common name flowering dogwood**

Best grown in the part shade of an understory
Deep shade or full sun is not recommended:
- Will grow in dense shade, although flowering will be minimal to none.
- Will grow in full sun, however, it becomes susceptible to scalding issues and other stresses.
Dry to moderate soil moisture is best.
Neither extreme drought nor wet sights are acceptable.
Anthracnose and powdery mildew can be problematic. However, anecdotal evidence by McCoy Horticultural has found that foliar applications of good biologically active compost tea may provide suppression of foliar diseases.
Deer resistance is low.

Attracts native bees
Hosts Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) caterpillar
Attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects
Improves soil (Its leaf litter decomposes more rapidly than most other species.)
Seeds (high calcium and fat content) are consumed by many bird types including songbirds, forest edge species, and wild turkey, and small mammals such as the eastern chipmunk, white-footed mouse, gray fox, gray squirrel, black bear, beaver, white-tailed deer, and skunk.
Beaver, rabbits, and deer browse the leaves and sprouts of the plant.
Provides shelter and habitat for many wildlife species

Endangered in Maine, exploitably vulnerable in New York, and threatened in Vermont