Your choices for a beautiful ornamental tree have come down to the dogwood vs. cherry tree. Which flowering ornamental tree is best for your yard? That depends largely on the available space and growing conditions where you want to plant the tree. These two early spring trees vary in size and have a slightly different look. Their sunlight and care needs are also a little different, which could help you choose between the two.
When spring arrives, two of the most beloved flowering trees begin their spectacular displays – dogwood trees and cherry blossoms. Both are renowned for their gorgeous blooms and ornamental appeal. But are they really that different?
As a gardening enthusiast, I used to struggle to tell dogwoods and cherry blossoms apart. With their pinkish-white blooms and similar bloom times it’s an easy mistake to make. After doing some research, I learned there are quite a few differences between these two spring showstoppers.
In this article, we’ll go over the key similarities and differences between dogwood trees and cherry blossoms. We’ll compare their botanical backgrounds, growth habits, care needs, and ornamental qualities so you can readily tell them apart.
Botanical Background
The first major difference is that dogwoods and cherry blossoms belong to completely different plant families.
Dogwood trees are in the genus Cornus, which contains around 60 species. Most popular dogwood species belong to the group Cornus florida.
Cherry blossoms on the other hand belong to the genus Prunus, which contains over 400 species including plums, cherries, peaches, and apricots. Popular cherry blossom species belong to groups like Prunus serrulata and Prunus x yedoensis.
So while both produce gorgeous spring blooms, dogwoods and cherry blossoms are not closely related at all.
Tree Size and Shape
When it comes to size and shape, there are some clear differences between dogwoods and cherry blossoms:
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Dogwoods are smaller, growing 10-30 feet tall and wide. They have a rounded, spreading canopy.
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Cherry blossoms are larger, reaching 15-35 feet tall and wide. They have a vase-shaped canopy with upright branching.
The modest size of dogwoods makes them perfect for small yards or as understory trees. The larger size of cherry blossoms allows them to make a bolder statement in the landscape.
Leaf Differences
You can also tell dogwoods and cherry blossoms apart by examining their leaves
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Dogwoods have oval, veined leaves arranged oppositely along branches. The leaves turn striking shades of red in fall.
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Cherry blossoms have oval to oblong, serrated leaves arranged alternately along branches. The leaves turn yellow to reddish-orange in autumn.
Flower Structure
The flowers of dogwoods and cherry blossoms share the common trait of having 5 petals or petal-like structures. But there are some distinct differences:
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Dogwoods have clusters of small, yellow, true flowers surrounded by 4 large, notched, petal-like bracts. Flower colors include white, pink, and red.
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Cherry blossoms have clusters of 5-petaled true flowers ranging from white to pink. The flowers have a delicate appearance.
Ornamental Bark
Both trees have ornamental bark that adds winter interest:
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Dogwoods often display mottled patches of tan, brown, and gray bark as they mature.
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Cherry blossoms reveal shiny, reddish-brown bark with prominent horizontal lenticels (pores).
Growth Rate and Site Preferences
When it comes to growth habits and site preferences, dogwoods and cherry blossoms have some similarities and differences:
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Dogwoods have a slow to medium growth rate. They are quite adaptable and can grow in full sun to partial shade.
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Cherry blossoms grow at a medium to fast rate. They strongly prefer full sun exposure.
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Both prefer moist, well-draining, slightly acidic soil. But dogwoods are better able to tolerate different soil types.
Geographic Range
Dogwood and cherry blossoms also differ in their hardiness and geographic range:
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Dogwoods grow in USDA zones 3-9, meaning they can tolerate quite cold winters.
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Cherry blossoms grow in USDA zones 5-8 and are less cold hardy.
So dogwoods have a larger suitable growing range than cherry blossoms.
Susceptibility to Issues
When it comes to pests, diseases, and other issues:
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Dogwoods can be susceptible to borers, powdery mildew, leaf spot, and other problems with the right conditions.
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Cherry blossoms tend to be more resistant to pests and diseases, though they can get leaf spot and fungal issues.
Pruning Needs
Pruning needs are minimal for both trees:
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Pruning for both species involves removing dead or damaged branches to maintain shape and structure.
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The best time to prune is late winter for cherry blossoms and late fall to early spring for dogwoods.
Wildlife Value
Both dogwoods and cherry blossoms provide excellent wildlife value:
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They offer shelter and food sources to birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
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Their spring blossoms provide essential early forage for pollinators like bees.
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Birds relish their late summer fruits.
Uses in Landscaping
Dogwood and cherry blossoms are both extremely valued for their ornamental qualities:
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Dogwoods work nicely in woodland gardens, small yards, and in groups or borders.
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Cherry blossoms make gorgeous focal points, specimen trees, and street trees in large landscapes.
No matter which you choose, they’ll add four-season beauty and welcome wildlife to your landscape!
Popular Varieties
While there are many species, here are a few of the most popular varieties of each:
Dogwoods:
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Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) – the classic spring bloomer
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Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa) – vase-shaped form with late spring flowers
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Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) – horizontal branching with white spring blooms
Cherry Blossoms:
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Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) – prolific white to pale pink blooms
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Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) – vibrant double pink flowers
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Weeping Cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) – cascading branches smothered in blooms
Key Takeaways: Dogwoods vs. Cherry Blossoms
Hopefully this gives you a good overview of how to tell dogwood trees and cherry blossoms apart. Here are some of the key differences:
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They belong to completely different plant families (Cornus vs. Prunus).
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Dogwoods are smaller and prefer partial shade; cherry blossoms are larger trees needing full sun.
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Dogwoods have bracts surrounding tiny flowers; cherry blossoms have 5-petaled blooms.
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Dogwoods have red fall foliage; cherry blossom leaves turn yellow to reddish-orange.
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Dogwoods are cold hardy to zone 3; cherry blossoms to zone 5.
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Dogwoods are more adaptable to various soils; cherry blossoms need well-draining soil.
No matter which beauty you pick, follow proper planting and care guidelines and you’ll be rewarded with years of enjoyment from these remarkable flowering trees.
Identification: Dogwood vs. Cherry Tree
Ornamental cherry trees (Prunus spp.) are similar to the cherry trees grown for fruit production. However, theyre grown more for their showy, delicate white or pink blossoms that open for a short period only in the early to mid spring. Depending on the variety, a cherry tree can have single or double blooms. The timing of the flowers can happen before the leaves develop or at the same time. Ornamental cherry tree leaves typically start out bronze, change to green in summer and end with rich fall color ranging from bronze to yellow-orange. More Like This
Dogwood trees (Cornus spp.) also bloom quite early, sometimes even in the late spring, usually in April and May. Rather than produce actual flowers like many flowering trees, the dogwood instead produces bracts, or leaves that have a petal shape. These bracts can be white, yellow, red or pink. In the fall, the leaves turn red or reddish-purple.
Tree Size Differences
Flowering cherry trees are not very large trees. In fact, they will only reach 15 to 25 feet tall to a similar spread. Height will vary from cultivar to cultivar. Some grow upright while others grow into a weeping shape. They can be used in the landscape for a variety of purposes due to their size and form. Plant them along your property line, driveway or sidewalk as a decorative border. Theyre also small enough to place near a patio to provide a little shade.
Dogwoods are generally taller than the flowering cherry tree, with the largest cultivars reaching up to 40 feet tall, if grown in the shade. If grown in full sunlight, the dogwood may only reach 15 to 20 feet. They work well as small shade trees, in borders or near a deck or patio. Both trees are relatively slow growers, gaining about a foot a year.
Is Flowering Dogwood the Best Tree for Your Yard?
FAQ
Are cherry blossoms dogwood?
Single cherry blossoms have 5 petals as opposed to the dogwood’s 4 petals. (There are also semi-double blossoms with 6–10 petals and doubles with 10 or more petals for cherry trees.) The bark on cherry trees is smoother looking than dogwood trees with horizontal marks that are called lenticels.
What tree is commonly mistaken for the dogwood tree?
On the surface, the flowering dogwood sounds very similar to Bradford pear.Apr 26, 2022
What trees are mistaken for cherry blossoms?
Apricots (Prunus armeniaca), peaches (P. persica), and nectarines (also P. persica) have showy spring blossoms that all resemble cherries. They may be white or pink, depending on the cultivar or hybrid.
How can you tell if a tree is a dogwood tree?
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YouTube · Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resourceshttps://www.youtube.comID That Tree: Flowering Dogwood – YouTubeAug 21, 2020 — the leaves are simple a single leaf blade. and they have an interesting venation pattern in the leaf where the veins. running off the mid rib angle …
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Davey Bloghttps://blog.davey.comFlowering Dogwood Tree: Everything You Need to Know – Davey BlogJul 23, 2020 — Flowering dogwood tree leaves are green and oval-shaped with a pointed tip. … Dogwoods are most recognized for their cross-shaped white or pink br…