New York landscapes love dogwoods for their flowers, berries, and fall color. With so many varieties, choosing the right ones can feel tricky.
Some thrive better in cold winters, while others prefer shelter from harsh winds. Picking the right types ensures a beautiful, long-lasting addition to your yard.
1. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Native to eastern North America, this classic beauty produces clouds of white or pink bracts each spring that make New York neighborhoods absolutely magical. Growing 15 to 30 feet tall, it adapts wonderfully to the state’s varied conditions.
Gardeners across New York appreciate how this tree offers four-season interest with spring flowers, summer shade, fall foliage in brilliant reds and purples, and bright red berries that birds adore. Plant it in partial shade with well-drained soil for best results, avoiding harsh afternoon sun that can stress the leaves.
2. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
Originally from Asia, this variety blooms several weeks later than its American cousin, extending the dogwood season well into early summer. Its star-shaped flowers and raspberry-like fruits create a stunning display that New York homeowners love.
More resistant to common diseases than flowering dogwood, Kousa varieties thrive throughout New York with minimal fuss. The exfoliating bark adds winter interest, peeling away to reveal attractive patterns underneath. Expect heights between 15 and 25 feet with excellent drought tolerance once established in your landscape.
3. Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
With branches that grow in horizontal tiers, this native creates an architectural wonder that looks like nature’s own sculpture. Creamy white flower clusters appear in late spring, followed by bluish-black berries on striking red stems.
Perfect for naturalized areas across New York, pagoda dogwood handles shade beautifully and reaches 15 to 25 feet tall. Wildlife enthusiasts appreciate how birds flock to feast on the fruits throughout autumn. The unique branching structure becomes especially dramatic in winter when snow outlines each horizontal layer against the gray sky.
4. Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
When winter arrives in New York, this shrub truly shines with brilliant red stems that pop against snow-covered landscapes. Growing 6 to 9 feet tall, it’s a maintenance-friendly choice that tolerates wet soils better than most dogwoods.
Clusters of white flowers bloom in spring, but the real showstopper happens after leaves drop. Those crimson stems create incredible visual interest through the coldest months. New York gardeners often plant multiple specimens together for maximum impact, pruning older stems periodically to encourage the brightest new growth each season.
5. Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’)
Imagine sunshine captured in branches—that’s exactly what this variety delivers to New York winters. Golden-yellow stems glow brilliantly against evergreens or when paired with red twig varieties for eye-catching contrast.
Growing similarly to its red-stemmed relative, this shrub reaches about 6 to 8 feet and handles New York’s harsh winters without complaint. It thrives in moist areas where other plants struggle, making it ideal for rain gardens or low-lying spots. The white spring flowers and blue-white berries add seasonal bonuses beyond the stunning winter stem display.
6. Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Tough as nails, this native shrub handles New York’s toughest conditions including poor soil, drought, and road salt with remarkable resilience. White flower clusters in late spring transition to white berries on red stalks, creating a patriotic color scheme.
Reaching 10 to 15 feet tall, gray dogwood spreads through underground runners, making it excellent for erosion control on slopes or naturalized borders. New York landscapers value its adaptability and low maintenance requirements. The gray-brown stems provide subtle winter interest, and fall foliage turns burgundy-purple before dropping.
7. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas)
Before most trees even think about waking up, this early bloomer covers itself in cheerful yellow flowers that announce spring’s arrival to New York. Edible cherry-like fruits ripen to bright red in summer, offering tart flavor for jams and jellies.
Growing 15 to 25 feet tall, Cornelian cherry adapts wonderfully to urban conditions throughout New York, tolerating pollution and compacted soil. The exfoliating bark develops attractive patterns with age. Deer typically leave it alone, and the fruits attract birds while providing a unique harvest opportunity for adventurous gardeners.
8. Bloodtwig Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
European by origin but perfectly suited to New York conditions, this shrub produces stems ranging from blood-red to deep purple that create moody winter drama. Creamy white flowers appear in late spring, followed by black berries.
Reaching 6 to 12 feet, bloodtwig dogwood tolerates a wide range of soil conditions across New York landscapes. The dark stem color provides sophisticated contrast to brighter twig varieties when planted together. Regular pruning every few years maintains the most vibrant stem colors. Fall foliage transforms to rich purples and reds before dropping.
9. Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)
Moisture-loving and native to eastern wetlands, silky dogwood absolutely thrives near ponds, streams, and rain gardens throughout New York. Creamy white flowers bloom in early summer, developing into beautiful blue berries that birds devour enthusiastically.
Growing 6 to 12 feet tall with a spreading habit, this shrub features reddish-purple fall color and burgundy winter twigs. New York gardeners use it extensively for naturalizing wet areas where other plants fail. The dense growth provides excellent wildlife habitat and erosion control along water edges throughout the seasons.
10. Variegated Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’)
Fancy foliage meets fiery stems in this showstopping cultivar that brightens shady New York gardens all season long. Gray-green leaves edged in creamy white create a luminous effect, while bright red stems steal the spotlight come winter.
Growing 5 to 8 feet tall, this variety tolerates wet soils and partial shade beautifully across New York landscapes. The variegated foliage prevents that “boring green” look during summer months. White flowers and white-blue berries add seasonal bonuses. Prune hard every few years to maintain compact size and encourage the most vibrant stem color.
11. Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Don’t overlook this tiny treasure—bunchberry grows just 3 to 9 inches tall but packs all the charm of its larger relatives into a woodland groundcover. White flowers resembling miniature flowering dogwood blooms appear in late spring throughout New York’s shaded forests.
Bright red berries cluster atop the plants in summer, giving this species its common name. New York gardeners with acidic, moist, shady conditions find bunchberry perfect for naturalizing under trees where grass won’t grow. The plant spreads slowly through underground rhizomes, creating attractive evergreen carpets in cool climates.
12. Giant Dogwood (Cornus controversa)
Living up to its name, this Asian species can reach impressive heights of 40 to 60 feet, making it a true specimen tree for larger New York properties. Horizontal branches create dramatic layers similar to pagoda dogwood but on a much grander scale.
Flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers cover the tree in early summer, followed by blue-black berries. New York arboretums and estates showcase this architectural marvel, which demands space to display its magnificent form. The tiered branching pattern becomes especially striking when covered in snow or backlit by winter sunsets across the landscape.
13. Cherokee Brave Dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Comco No. 1’)
Bred for superior disease resistance and stunning color, Cherokee Brave produces the deepest pink-to-red bracts of any flowering dogwood cultivar available to New York gardeners. The flowers practically glow against dark green foliage each spring.
Growing 15 to 25 feet tall, this cultivar handles New York’s climate zones beautifully while resisting anthracnose and powdery mildew better than older varieties. Fall brings gorgeous burgundy-red foliage before bright red berries persist into winter. Plant in partial shade with afternoon protection for the most vibrant blooms and healthiest growth throughout the seasons.