Wilson's Dogwood (C. wilsoniana)
Also known as: Ghost Dogwood
What's special about Wilson's Dogwood (C. wilsoniana)
Chinese species with ghostly pale bark and creamy white flower clusters.
Growing this variety
Wilson's Dogwood (C. wilsoniana) follows the same growing basics as Dogwood. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Dogwood family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Clean pulp from seed and sow outdoors in fall, or cold-moist stratify 2–4 months before spring sowing. Transplant to moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil.
Pre-sow treatment
Cold-moist stratify 60–120 days for best germination.
Grower's tip
Beloved genus for spring blooms, summer berries, and brilliant fall color. Many species produce edible fruit (cornelian cherry, kousa berries).
Soil preferences
Deep, well-drained native soil. Avoid amending the planting hole heavily — roots should learn to grow into the surrounding earth.
5.5–7.5 depending on species (conifers lean acidic; most hardwoods neutral).
Top-dress with compost and mulch in a wide ring; don't backfill with pure compost.
Watering
Deep soak weekly the first two years while roots establish; taper once the tree self-supports.
Slow trickle at the drip line, not the trunk. A 5-gal bucket with a pinhole is ideal.
Overwatered: yellowing, root rot, mushroom collar. Underwatered: leaf scorch, early leaf drop.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water (overhead or rain) — grains are wind-pollinated and tolerate wet foliage. Water deeply and infrequently.
Temperature tolerance
Broad — most species tolerate 40–90°F once established
Down to species-rated USDA zone minimum
Hardy once established; young seedlings need protection their first winter.
Special germination requirements
Most temperate tree seed needs cold stratification (30–120+ days at 34–41°F) — see each species entry for the exact time.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
Deep tree pots (root trainers) for the first 1–2 seasons; permanent site required for full growth.
Only dwarf, patio, or bonsai forms live long-term in containers.
Detailed harvesting
Not applicable for ornamental/timber trees. Nut and fruit species — pick when they drop naturally.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Nuts: keep damp and cool, sow promptly. Winged/coned seed: dry, cool, dark in a sealed jar.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Shade, windbreak, wildlife habitat, timber, ornament, and long-term carbon storage.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Wind- or insect-pollinated; seedlings rarely match the parent exactly (especially named cultivars — those must be grafted or cutting-grown).
Not practical for trees. Expect variation.
Collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean, dry or keep damp per species, then cold-stratify before spring sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for dogwood in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Wilson's Dogwood (C. wilsoniana) Dogwood notes
Wilson's Dogwood (C. wilsoniana) Dogwood seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
From your kitchen — grow dogwood from what you already have
Trees usually mean patience — collect fully ripe seed in fall, clean pulp off, and give most species a cold winter (real or in the fridge) before they'll germinate.
- 1Collect ripe seed/nuts/cones in autumn from a healthy parent.
- 2Clean off any fleshy pulp; dry cones warm to release seed.
- 3Cold-stratify in a bag of damp sand or peat in the fridge (34–41°F) for the time listed on the species.
- 4Sow in deep tree pots and grow on 1–2 seasons before planting to a permanent spot.
Storage: Most tree seed keeps 1–3 years cool and dry; oak/hickory/chestnut nuts must stay damp and be sown promptly.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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Other Dogwood varieties
Tatarian Dogwood (C. alba)
N/AShrub grown for brilliant red or yellow winter stems and white berries; coppice for best color.
Pagoda Dogwood (C. alternifolia)
N/AElegant small tree with layered horizontal branches and creamy spring flowers.
Silky Dogwood (C. amomum)
N/ANative wetland shrub with blue berries and reddish-purple fall color; excellent for erosion control.
Bunchberry (C. canadensis)
N/ALow creeping woodland groundcover with white dogwood-like blooms and bright red berries.
Evergreen Dogwood (C. capitata)
N/AHimalayan evergreen tree with strawberry-like edible fruit and creamy bracts.
Giant Dogwood (C. controversa)
N/AAsian species with distinctive tiered horizontal branching and white spring flower clusters.
Roughleaf Dogwood (C. drummondii)
N/ATough native shrub with white berries and rough leaves; thrives in dry, rocky soils.
Flowering Dogwood (C. florida)
N/AEastern U.S. classic with showy white or pink spring bracts and red fall fruit.
Western Cornel (C. glabrata)
N/AWest Coast native dogwood with smooth leaves and small clusters of flowers.
Hong Kong Dogwood (C. hongkongensis)
N/AEvergreen to semi-evergreen Asian dogwood with large white bracts.
Kousa Dogwood (C. kousa)
N/AAsian species with showy white bracts followed by raspberry-like edible fruit; resistant to anthracnose.
Cornelian Cherry (C. mas)
N/ASmall tree with early yellow flowers and bright red edible sour cherry-like fruit.
Pacific Dogwood (C. nuttallii)
N/AWest Coast native with large white bracts; state flower of British Columbia.
Japanese Cornel Dogwood (C. officinalis)
N/AAsian relative of Cornelian cherry with edible red fruit and early yellow blooms.
Gray Dogwood (C. racemosa)
N/ANative shrub with white berries on red stalks; excellent for wildlife and naturalistic plantings.
Roundleaf Dogwood (C. rugosa)
N/ANative shrub with round leaves, white berries, and rich purple fall color.
Bloodtwig Dogwood (C. sanguinea)
N/AEuropean shrub prized for bright yellow-orange-red winter stems; coppice yearly for best color.
Red Osier Dogwood (C. sericea)
N/ANative wetland shrub with brilliant red winter stems and white berries; classic for winter interest.
Blackfruit Dogwood (C. sessilis)
N/ARare California native with dark blue-black fruit and attractive fall foliage.
Walter's Dogwood (C. walteri)
N/ASoutheastern U.S. dogwood with distinctive ridged bark and small blue fruit.