Bonus points: This tree can be delivered right to your door.
Grace is a former Associate Homes Editor for Southern Living. She covered a variety of topics for print and digital, from design and flower arranging to cottage gardens and pets. Before moving to the Homes team, she joined Southern Living as a copy editor. Off the clock, find her strolling through neighborhoods around the South to admire the houses and snapping photos of colorful front doors. English To Japanese Translation Agency
Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest.
Flowering dogwood trees are hallmarks of Southern landscaping. These small understory trees are known to produce dazzling blooms in spring and summer, along with showy foliage in the fall. The state of Virginia loved dogwood trees so much that they named it their official tree. Flowering dogwoods (Cornus florida) are the most widely recognized type of this classic tree, but the genus offers a diverse array of selections with unique characteristics.
One of our favorites? The ornamental Empress of China dogwood. This evergreen tree from the Southern Living Plant Collection is a native of China. It produces clusters of large, creamy white blooms in late spring and summer; then later throughout the season, it produces translucent ruby, strawberry-like fruits that songbirds enjoy eating. The best times to plant the tree are spring or fall. Growing at a slow to moderate rate up to 20 feet tall and wide, the Empress of China is an impressive accent tree worth considering for your garden.
The Empress of China can be grown in most of the South. This low-maintenance tree doesn't require pruning and needs only to be fertilized once a year in early spring. Plant it in a spot that gets direct sun but some protection from the hot afternoon sun.
The Empress of China dogwood can be ordered online through the Southern Living Plant Collection and then delivered to your door. Once you've received your tree, choose a partly sunny spot for it in your front or back yard. Dig a hole that's three times the width of the tree's original pot. Then backfill and plant one to two inches above the soil. The tree grows best in moist, well-drained soil that's been amended with organic matter. After planting, add a layer of mulch to protect moisture and keep the soil cool.
Chinese evergreen dogwoods prefer more sunlight than some dogwood species. Make sure it gets direct sun for part of the day to encourage a good bloom. But choose a spot that provides some shade in the afternoon if you live in an area with hot summers.
The Empress of China dogwood prefers soil that is acidic, organically rich, and well-drained. Amend your soil with organic matter such as finely ground bark to improve drainage, or add compost to help retain moisture and enrich a sandy soil.
Empress of China dogwoods need moderately moist soil, but they won't do well in saturated soils. Water deeply when you first plant and continue to water regularly until the tree is established. Give your tree a drink in hot, dry weather, or it may drop some leaves. Your tree will require less water in winter. To preserve moisture, add 1 to 2 inches of mulch such as pine straw, bark mulch, or leaf litter. When mulching around the tree, keep it a few inches away from the trunk.
While this tree can be grown in the Upper South, it is less likely to remain fully evergreen in winter north of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7. The tree's foliage gradually turns a reddish-purple, until new foliage pushes off the old leaves to emerge in spring. This tree may be better suited to more humid climates as it is not drought-tolerant.
The Empress of China dogwood can be fertilized once a year in spring. Dogwoods get the greatest benefit from annual fertilizing when they are young. Use a slow-release tree and shrub fertilizer, or add a fresh layer of compost around the tree.
There are many species of dogwood native to North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. They are classified into tree and shrub forms. In addition to the flowering dogwood, there are other varieties that can grow in the South.
This low-maintenance tree does not require any pruning. You can remove a stray or broken branch with a sharp pair of pruners at any time. If you want to reshape the tree, wait until after flowering so you don't lose the blooms. You will see less fruit on the tree wherever you remove the spent flowers.
Empress of China may not be reliably hardy in Zone 6 during a harsh winter. If you are expecting very cold temperatures, provide extra winter protection with a thick layer of mulch.
Empress of China is very disease resistant for a dogwood. The tree is not susceptible to the anthracnose that has plagued many native dogwoods. The thick, leathery leaves are fairly resistant to mildew and insect damage as well.
Empress of China is a prolific bloomer for the species, producing up to 150 blossoms per branch. White blooms of four petals surround a golden center, appearing after other flowering dogwoods have finished blooming. Depending on how far north you live, it may not start blooming until early summer. The tree can be grown in the shade, but it may not produce as many blooms. Plant in a sunny location to encourage blooms. If you prune the plant in spring before flowering, you are likely to sacrifice some flowers.
Dogwood trees can live 20 years or longer. With proper care, they can live up to 80 years, but the tree’s species, health, and environment play a role.
Grow this dogwood as a large shrub, or cut the lower branches to grow as a small tree. It keeps foliage year-round and can be used to create privacy and shade near patios and porches or grown at the edge of woodland areas.
Pollinating insects, butterflies, and birds are attracted to the flowers and berries. It is resistant to deer and other insects.
Traditional Chinese To English Translation Company Virginia Tourism Corporation. State symbols, seals and emblems.