Flowering Dogwood Help/Advice

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

The Dogwood is the state tree of Missouri. In an effort to work with native/local trees I have several Dogwoods in various stages of development. My research hasn't yielded much in the way of advice. Any Nuts grow these with success? Any suggestions or concerns with species? Thanks!

 

[StoneCloud]

What type of Dogwood is it?

 

[StoneCloud]

Here is a thread on our forum on Dogwood:

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/dogwood.18287/

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

What type of Dogwood is it?

Cornus Florida, I believe. I've collected a couple and those I'm not sure the type.

 

[StoneCloud]

Here is some good info on the species that should help you out if you haven't read it already:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Cornus.html

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Here is a thread on our forum on Dogwood:

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/dogwood.18287/

How did you find this? This is what I was looking for...so thank you!! When I search "Dogwood", I came up w/ like 5000 hits. Anytime the word was spelled it showed up...which made it difficult to find anything useful. Even the title search didn't help.

 

[StoneCloud]

How did you find this? This is what I was looking for...so thank you!! When I search "Dogwood", I came up w/ like 5000 hits. Anytime the word was spelled it showed up...which made it difficult to find anything useful. Even the title search didn't help.

I speed read the entire 5000 results LOLOLOL just kidding.....

I actually found the thread via google.....but a while back initially was looking up info on dogwoods ( I do like them) then saw your thread and it rang a bell !

The other link on bonsai4me is some good info too

 

[Grant Hamby]

I set up an air layer at the beginning of March for experimentation purposes. I'll try to post any updates.

 

[Andrew Robson]

Dogwood has big flowers and big leaves. Yes the leaves will reduce some with time in bonsai culture, but they will still be pretty big. Therefore, you need to grow them into bigger bonsai. A yard is probably the height you want to shoot for, and then the trees will look in scale. As with most deciduous bonsai, it is best to either start from a cutting, seedling, or airlayer and grow it slowly over time, trying never to make a big cut if you don't have to.

I think it's great you're growing dogwood for bonsai. We need more people using deciduous natives, and the Midwest had plenty of natives with good potential waiting to be utilized.

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Dogwood has big flowers and big leaves. Yes the leaves will reduce some with time in bonsai culture, but they will still be pretty big. Therefore, you need to grow them into bigger bonsai. A yard is probably the height you want to shoot for, and then the trees will look in scale. As with most deciduous bonsai, it is best to either start from a cutting, seedling, or airlayer and grow it slowly over time, trying never to make a big cut if you don't have to.

I think it's great you're growing dogwood for bonsai. We need more people using deciduous natives, and the Midwest had plenty of natives with good potential waiting to be utilized.

Thanks for your insight, Andrew. I recently picked up a Kousa Dogwood, during a repot I noticed the roots are quite fibirous. Is that true of all dogwoods? It would seem that would help make it an good bonsai candidate, no?

 

[VAFisher]

I collected one with a really nice base and some great bark from the woods behind my house this year. I just now am seeing some buds so I'm hopeful it survived the collection. I envision a tall, slender almost literatish tree to match the way they look in the wild around here. I have a special place in my heart for dogwood and have always wanted a specimen. We'll see how it works out.

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

I collected one with a really nice base and some great bark from the woods behind my house this year. I just now am seeing some buds so I'm hopeful it survived the collection. I envision a tall, slender almost literatish tree to match the way they look in the wild around here. I have a special place in my heart for dogwood and have always wanted a specimen. We'll see how it works out.

Keep us posted!