Phyllis is a Master Gardener growing in Zone 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The things she loves most about her job are planting flowering shrubs and perennials, taking care of her dogs and chickens in the backyard, and working in her yard.
Phyllis has been a Master Gardener teacher in North Carolina for a long time. She is now sharing her best tips with FastGrowingTrees on how to choose plants, garden, take care of your landscape, and more. com.
The Best Dogwood Trees to Grow in Zone 9 Gardens
Dogwood trees are prized for their showy spring blooms and attractive foliage that provides multi-season interest. While they thrive in zones 5-8 dogwoods can also flourish in the warmer zone 9 with proper care and by selecting the right cultivars.
If you live in zone 9 and want to add dogwoods to your landscape here are some of the best varieties to consider
Cherokee Chief Dogwood
A popular pick is the Cherokee Chief dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Chief’), an improved cultivar of the native flowering dogwood. It produces an abundance of large, white bracts in spring that can reach 6 inches across. The red fall foliage is another bonus.
This small, multi-stemmed tree grows 15-20 feet tall and wide. It prefers partial shade in zone 9 to protect it from scorching sun. Cherokee Chief is easy to grow, resistant to pests, and tolerates hot and humid summers.
Appalachian Spring Dogwood
Another excellent selection is Appalachian Spring (Cornus florida ‘Appalachian Spring’). This is a compact cultivar that matures at just 10-15 feet tall, making it ideal for smaller zone 9 gardens.
The blooms emerge a delicate blush pink color before fading to white. It offers vibrant red-purple fall color. Give this dogwood tree dappled sunlight or light afternoon shade.
Plena Dogwood
Cornus florida ‘Plena’ is a double-flowering form with rows of frilly, white bracts that resemble hydrangea blooms. It flowers heavily in spring. The plant grows 15-20 feet high and wide at maturity.
While most dogwoods bloom best in part shade, Plena thrives with full sun exposure in zone 9. It is one of the most heat tolerant selections. Just provide consistent water during dry periods.
Cherokee Brave Dogwood
Cherokee Brave (Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Brave’) is another improved Cornus florida cultivar that does well in zone 9 gardens. It is valued for producing large, deep pink bracts that hold their color without fading.
This small tree reaches 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide at maturity. Partial shade suits it best. Cherokee Brave offers excellent disease resistance and is very low maintenance once established.
Cherokee Princess Dogwood
Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Princess’ is a lovely white-flowering dogwood that thrives in zone 9. Its double flowers have tiered rows of pointed bracts resembling a paper snowflake. It grows as a dense, multi-stemmed tree to 15-20 feet high and wide.
Give this dogwood cultivar afternoon shade in hot climates. It is one of the most disease resistant selections, unfazed by common problems like powdery mildew and leaf spot.
Weaver’s White Dogwood
According to local zone 9 growers, Weaver’s White dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Weaver’s White’) is an excellent choice that reliably blooms and withstands heat. It grows 15 feet tall at maturity with a rounded, spreading form.
Abundant white spring blossoms and deep red fall color make this small tree a year-round beauty. Site it in light shade protected from intense afternoon sun.
Key Points:
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When choosing dogwoods for zone 9, select cultivars bred to tolerate heat like Cherokee Chief, Appalachian Spring, and Plena.
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Give dogwoods afternoon shade if possible, with the exception of Plena which can handle full sun exposure.
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Water dogwood trees regularly when first planted and during droughts. They prefer evenly moist, well-draining soil.
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Opt for disease resistant cultivars like Cherokee Brave and Cherokee Princess to avoid problems in warmer zones.
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Local zone 9 growers recommend Weaver’s White as an excellent dogwood variety that blooms reliably despite heat.
With proper selection and care, it’s certainly possible for gardens in zone 9 to showcase dogwood’s seasonal beauty. Focus on heat-loving cultivars and provide some shade for best results.
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5 Favorite Flowering Dogwood Trees | NatureHills.com
FAQ
Will a dogwood tree grow in zone 9?
What is the most heat tolerant dogwood tree?
What month is best to plant a dogwood tree?
What is the prettiest dogwood tree?
Do dogwood trees grow in Zone 9?
Good news to all dogwood lovers out there, dogwood trees will do well in zone 9. Dogwood trees prefer warmer climates and do well in zones 7 to 9. Now, given that zone 9 is at the top of their range, it might leave you concerned about how to care for dogwood trees in this zone properly.
Are dogwood trees hardy?
This article will focus on the famous and beautiful flowering dogwood, Cornus florida, which is hardy Zones 5 to 9. These small trees make excellent specimen plantings in the landscape.
Where do dogwood trees grow?
Dogwoods, Cornus spp., are shrubs, subshrubs, and understory trees in the Cornaceae family of flowering plants. They are native to Asia, Europe, and North America. And there are varieties suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones ranging from 2 to 9. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
What is a dogwood tree?
The most popular and one of the most beautiful dogwood trees is a small deciduous tree that blooms with white, pink, or red flowers in early spring. Flowering dogwood has a low-branching habit with a flattish crown. Dark green leaves, 3 to 6 inches long, turn an attractive red in fall.
Do dogwoods grow in full shade?
For catch-all Cornus cultivation, let’s go over what works. If you’re anywhere in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 10, there’s a dogwood species for you – but not all Cornus species are suitable for all Zones. In general, dogwoods thrive in full sun to partial shade, depending on the species, and some can tolerate full shade.
When do dogwood trees grow?
Mid-March through May, depending on variety. Most dogwood shrubs and trees grow quickly, with a fast rate of over a foot a year. Trees will reach full size in about a decade. White is the usual color of the dogwood’s petal-like bracts, but some are pink or even pale red, such as C. florida ‘Rubra’.