Pink Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida ‘Rubra’

Pink Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida 'Rubra'

Few ornamental trees match the seasonal presence of Cornus florida 'Rubra'. Its soft pink spring bracts and distinctly layered branching architecture deliver refined, four-season structure, a hallmark of considered landscape design.

Why Pink Flowering Dogwood

Spring bract display: Broad, soft pink bracts emerge before the foliage, creating a striking seasonal statement with genuine visual weight.
Architectural branching: The horizontal, tiered canopy provides year-round structural interest that holds its own in formal and naturalistic compositions alike.
Four-season performance: Spring flower, summer canopy, rich autumn foliage, and a clean winter silhouette ensure ongoing landscape value across every season.
Controlled scale: Reaching 4 to 6 metres, it integrates precisely into mid-scale compositions without competing with surrounding built form or planting.
Proven ornamental pedigree: A mainstay of prestige landscape planting in temperate climates, selected for refined residential and high-end commercial projects.

Ideal Applications

Specimen feature planting: Positioned as a focal point in entrance forecourts or open lawn settings where its flowering season commands full attention.
Courtyard and enclosed landscapes: Compact scale and elegant form suit contained or architecturally defined outdoor spaces.
Understory layer: Performs with distinction beneath taller canopy trees in filtered light, lending depth and seasonal colour to layered planting schemes.
Avenue and repetition planting: Deployed in sequence along pathways or boundaries to create a unified, high-impact spring display across larger properties.

Specimen & Installation

Spacing (feature/avenue): 5–8m
Planting Season: Autumn to early spring (when dormant)
Soil & Drainage: Well-drained, moist, slightly acidic, humus-rich soil; avoid waterlogged or highly alkaline conditions
Establishment Care: Water deeply and regularly during the first two to three years to establish a strong root system, particularly over summer. Apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and keep roots cool.

Plant Details

Height: 6–10m
Width: 5–8m
Growth Rate: Slow
Foliage: Deciduous
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Native to: Eastern North America
Flower Colour: Pink