Two great dogwoods

There is nothing in cultivation quite like a flowering dogwoods; large bracts surround tiny flowers, the overall effect being like giant flowers on a large shrub/small tree. Typically these bracts are white, although stresses (such as drought) can turn them pink. Of the various species around I rate Cornus kousa very highly....

I think one of the best cultivars of Cornus kousa is 'Miss Satomi' (also known as just 'Satomi'); this cultivar has reliable pink bracts regardless of stress. It is fairly free flowering, and makes quite an impact.

Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi'

I'm very excited about a new variety onto the scene; Cornus kousa 'National'. This form with white bracts seems to flower fairly reliably even as a young plant. It is also fairly vigorous, so I think will make an excellent garden tree in years to come.

Cornus kousa 'National'

Another excellent vigorous variety is Cornus 'Eddies White Wonder', a hybrid between C. florida and C. nutallii, neither species I would say is straightforward in cultivation in the UK. However this hybrid is vigorous, although the forms I have seen tend to be upright rather than having the spreading habit of the original form.... Either way the exceptionally sized white bracts on this one are a treat!

There is one Cornus that I don't rate very highly, despite it being quite popular. Cornus 'Norman Haddon' is a hybrid of Cornus kousa and C. capitata, and it is the latter species that can prove temperamental in all but the most favourable parts of the UK. In some places it thrives, but in many more it struggles; I would always recommend C. kousa 'Miss Satomi' instead.

Flowering dogwoods are fairly straightforward to grow in principle; lots of sunshine and a soil that doesn't get too wet or too dry and you should be OK. That said I heard some wisdom from that legend of gardening and general nice guy Roy Lancaster- different cultivars of Cornus thrive in different areas. With this in mind you might need to do some research to find which varieties suit your area... failing that just throw caution to the wind and buy either 'National' or 'Miss Satomi'!