The National Garden Bureau was born during WW II when the government encouraged homeowners to grow Victory Gardens. “Inspire. Connect. Grow.” is their motto and the 'Scoop has been a member for decades.
From their website: Each year the National Garden Bureau selects one annual, one perennial, one bulb crop, one edible, one houseplant, and one shrub as our “Year of the” crops. Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile.
This year’s shrub choice is Dogwood aka Cornus. It’s been a part of human history for centuries and, since the 1800’s, it’s become a favorite of American gardeners. I’m one of them!
Dogwoods offer color throughout the seasons with colorful stems, petite flowers, berries and fall foliage on many cultivars. The ‘Buds Yellow’ has interesting yellow branches. The fall foliage is also yellow.
A nugget of historic info from NGB: From woodworking to medicine, dogwoods have found a place in the history books. The genus was likely named for its dense wood, which was often used to make tools. And for many people, their spring blooms are considered a symbol of rebirth and renewal. When Native Americans saw the dogwoods blooming, they knew it was time to plant their crops.
This information was new to me; the Pagoda Dogwood tree is native to Minnesota. The photos below were taken by Gertens In-House photographer, Lizzie, at Prairie Moon Nursery in Winona. Here’s info from Gertens on the Pagoda.
Dogwoods grow best in full sun and also do well in part shade. The Pagoda tolerating more shade. This is a great selection for suburban areas with smaller lots as it’s a great understory tree growing 15 ft to (maybe) 25 ft tall.
For amazing color, especially in winter, consider the Redtwig Dogwood. This guy grows big, 10 ft x 10 ft.
If you have moist soil, don’t worry, there’s a Dogwood for that.
- Tatarian Dogwood (Cornus alba)
- Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
- Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
And finally, some very popular varieties:
Further tips from NGB:
- They thrive in moist soils but tolerate average conditions. Avoid planting in drier soils.
- They require regular watering to get established that first year.
- If you’re existing dogwoods are overgrown, consider cutting back all the stems near the ground to rejuvenate the plant. Do this in late winter or early spring before the plant starts growing.
I’m planning on picking up 2 Neon Bursts!! Well, that’s the plan for now. I just love plant planning and shopping!
Here’s to YOUR plant wish list,
The Garden Scoop
