The Pagoda Dogwood; Everything you Should Know About This Stunning Plant

One of the most common questions about the Pagoda Dogwood is, is it a Tree or is it a shrub? This versatile plant can be either. As a tree, is is on the compact side, only growing 10-25 feet in height with a width of 20 -32 feet. When used as a shrub, it is large, growing over eight feet in height.

While this is a deciduous tree, meaning that it loses its leaves, it does put on a show beforehand. In the spring white clusters of fragrant flowers let you know that spring has arrived. You can expect these blooms when the tree is two to three years old. Once the flowers have finished blooming, the dark, rich green leaves add a beautiful touch of color. As fall arrives prepare to be dazzled by burgundy, red leaves. Blueish berries in the fall attract many bird species to the tree.

The Pagoda dogwood has lovely shaped branches, which give it the appearance of being multi-layered. The first snowfall of the year often looks picture-postcard perfect as it lands on the shapely branches in order to create a stunning winter wonderland appearance.

This tree, loves full sun but will do well in partial shade, as long as it gets at least six full hours of sunlight. It needs ample water. Moist, well drained soil that is acidic is what makes this tree thrive.

The Pagoda dogwood does well in zones 3,4,5,6 and 7. The tree has a shallow root system and a layer of mulch will offer protection for the roots When you get your Pagoda dogwood home, dig a hole twice as large as the root ball. The hole should also be about 8 inches deeper than the tree's container. This tree grows at a moderate speed.

Be sure the soil is loose. If you have to, you can mix some peat into the soil at the bottom of the hole. Do not add fertilizer to the soil at the time of planting. You can fertilize lightly after the tree experiences its first bloom. Fertilize more heavily in the later part of the fall each year.

This is a hardy and healthy tree that is not susceptible to many health concerns or pests. It's a perfect plant for shade gardens on both public and private properties. The low height makes it a good choice for public areas, where worry about utility poles and wires is an issue. These trees are also stunning when they frame the front walkway to the home. In the spring visitors will walk under a gorgeous arch of flowers as they walk up to the front door. It's something that homeowners look forward to seeing year after year.

Following the planting directions and giving the plant adequate water during its first year is the most important thing that you can do for this tree. If you're concerned about the shape of the tree, pruning can be done when the tree is young in order to train it. Other than for training purposes in the beginning, this tree is easy to care for and does not require much pruning at all, unless a branch suffers storm damage.

In addition to the beauty of the tree, it also attracts beautiful butterflies, lovely song birds and small mammals, who make a home in it. If you're looking for a tree that does not get too tall, that is pretty, and relatively easy to grow, this is it. This tree is known to live for 8 decades or more. During this time it adds beauty, shade and a safe refuge for wildlife to take shelter in.