Disease and Insect Resistant Ornamental Plants: Cornus (Dogwood)

Abstract

Cornus is a genus of about 60 species of mostly shrubs and small trees commonly known as dogwoods. This genus includes many ornamentals, but the most popular is the flowering dogwood, Cornus florida. Native to the Eastern United States, these distinctive small trees are widely grown in Zones 5-9 and are known for their showy bracts, red fruit, horizontal branching habit and fall color. The emergence of dogwood anthracnose in the 1970’s and powdery mildew in the 1990’s devastated C. florida in forest, landscape and nursery settings and they remain serious problems in many parts of the country. Host resistance is a key management strategy in areas where these diseases are prevalent.