Mid-Atlantic Gardening: The American Flowering Dogwood, 1 by Rickwebb

Rickwebb wrote:
Back in my native northeast Illinois, we did not have Flowering Dogwood growing because our soils were usually slightly alkaline and it needs at least some acid pH reaction. Northwest Indiana did have some. Here in southeast Pennsylvania they are common and well-known. Back in the 1990's a new canker disease called Discula from Asia had many worried that this species would be devastated by it. Fortunately, most survived it. Some less vigorous plants or ones in hot, sunny conditions with poorer soil did die from it. So, I recommend to keep planting it. The Kousa Dogwood from East Asia was introduced and also hybridized with the American species. The Asian species is also pretty, but does have one huge disadvantage, which is that its fruit is a large, soft, multiple fruit balls that make a mess on any pavement or even in lawn in late summer and early fall. I've seen yellow jackets feeding on the rotting fruit, but nothing else. In Asia monkeys eat the fruit. The fruit of the American species is hard and small and is relished by many birds. My photos show a mature tree in bloom, then a close-up of white flowers, the a pink blooming specimen, then the small red fruit of the American species, then two specimens in good red autumn color, all in Downingtown, PA.