Dogwood shrubs make a stunning and flexible addition to any outdoor space, providing beauty throughout the year and attracting a diverse range of animals.
From their stunning spring blooms to their attractive winter stems, these shrubs are a delight in every season.
Below, we explore 16 of the best dogwood shrub varieties that are perfect for landscaping and wildlife.
Don’t miss my detailed Dogwood Tree Guide for key insights on care practices, common issues, propagation, and more. Check it out today!
1. Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
The Red Twig dogwood is a medium-sized shrub that grows up to 9 feet tall and wide with a rounded shape.
Its white spring blooms are a delight, but the real show starts in winter when its stems turn a vibrant red, creating a striking landscape feature.
This shrub also offers food and shelter to birds, enhancing its wildlife value. Hardy in Zones 3-8, it’s a resilient choice for most landscapes.
2. Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’)
The Yellow Twig dogwood, similar in size to the Red Twig, stands out with its bright yellow stems that provide a burst of color in the winter landscape.
Its clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, attracting pollinators. In the fall, it produces white berries that are a food source for birds.
This shrub is hardy in Zones 3-8 and is a versatile addition to any garden.
3. Gray Twig Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
The Gray Twig dogwood is a large shrub, growing up to 15 feet tall with a rounded form. Its clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, attracting pollinators.
In the fall, it produces white berries that are a food source for birds. Its gray stems add interest in the winter, and it’s hardy in Zones 3-8, making it a resilient choice for various climates.
4. Bunchberry Dogwood (Cornus canadensis)
The Bunchberry dogwood is a low-growing ground cover shrub that reaches only about 9 inches in height. It blooms with clusters of white flowers in the spring, providing a carpet of color.
In the fall, it produces bright-red berries that are a food source for birds and small mammals. This shrub is hardy in Zones 2-7 and is a great choice for adding ground-level interest to your garden.
5. Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
The Red Osier dogwood is a medium-sized shrub that maxes out at 10 feet tall with a rounding growth habit. Its clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, attracting pollinators.
In the winter, its red stems provide a striking contrast to the snowy landscape. This shrub is hardy in Zones 2-8 and tolerates a variety of soil conditions.
6. Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)
The Silky dogwood is a medium to large shrub, growing up to 12 feet tall with a rounded form. It’s known for its clusters of white flowers that bloom in late spring, attracting a variety of pollinators.
In the fall, it produces blue berries that birds love, bringing more wildlife to your yard. Its leaves turn a vibrant red in the fall, adding to its year-round appeal.
This shrub is hardy in Zones 5-8, and it can tolerate temperatures down to -20°F.
7. Ivory Halo Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Bailhalo’)
The Ivory Halo dogwood is a compact shrub that reaches about 6 feet tall at maturity with a rounded form. It’s known for its variegated leaves that provide visual interest throughout the growing season.
In the winter, its red stems provide a striking contrast to the snowy landscape. This shrub is hardy in Zones 3-7 and will brighten nearly any spot in your yard.
8. Isanti Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Isanti’)
The Isanti dogwood is a compact shrub that grows up to 5 feet tall with a nicely rounded form. Its clusters of small white flowers that attract pollinators appear in the spring.
In the winter, its red stems enliven the dreary landscape. This shrub is hardy in Zones 3-7 and is known for maintaining a compact growth habit.
9. Neon Burst Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘ByBoughen’)
The Neon Burst dogwood is a compact shrub that reaches 4 feet tall and has a rounded form. It’s known for its bright yellow-green foliage that provides visual interest throughout the growing season.
In the fall, its leaves turn a brilliant red, and in the winter, its red stems stand proudly against the snow. Hardy in Zones 2-7, this shrub won’t disappoint.
10. European Variegated Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Argenteo-marginata’)
The European Variegated dogwood is a medium-sized shrub that reaches 8 feet in height and maintains a rounded form.
Its variegated leaves, a mix of green and white, provide visual interest throughout the growing season.
In the winter, its red stems stand out against the snowy landscape, adding a pop of color. This shrub is hardy in Zones 3-7.
11. Garden Glow Dogwood (Cornus hessei ‘Garden Glow’)
The Garden Glow dogwood is a compact shrub that only reaches 3 feet tall. It’s known for its round form and bright yellow-green foliage that provides visual interest throughout the growing season.
In the fall, its leaves turn a bright red, giving it a year-round appeal. This shrub is hardy in Zones 4-8, and you’ll be amazed by the way it seems to glow in certain light conditions.
12. Arctic Fire Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera ‘Farrow’)
The Arctic Fire dogwood is a compact shrub that grows up to 5 feet tall with a reliably rounded form.
Its clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring, and in the winter, its red stems provide a striking contrast to the snowy landscape.
This little shrub is great for foundation planting but works well as a specimen plant or as a low-growing privacy screen. It’s hardy in Zones 3-7.
13. Muskingum Dogwood (Cornus racemosa ‘Muszam’)
The Muskingum dogwood is a medium-sized shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall with a spreading form.
The clusters of white flowers bloom in the spring and are quite attractive. In the fall, the shrub produces blue berries that draw birds to your yard.
This shrub is hardy in Zones 4-8 and is helpful for controlling erosion and suppressing weeds.
14. Kelsey Dwarf Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyi’)
The Kelsey Dwarf dogwood is a low-growing shrub that reaches only about 2 feet in height. It’s known for its red winter stems and its clusters of white flowers that bloom in the spring.
This shrub is hardy in Zones 2-7 and is a great choice for adding ground-level interest to your garden. Its compact size makes it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or border plantings.
15. Tartarian Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’)
The Tartarian dogwood is a medium-sized shrub that grows up to 9 feet tall with a rounded, arching form and fast growth rate.
Its clusters of white to yellowish-white flowers bloom in the spring. In the winter, its red stems provide a welcome dash of color.
This shrub is hardy in Zones 2-8, and its vibrant winter color makes it a standout in the colder months.
16. Elegantissima Dogwood (Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’)
The Elegantissima dogwood is a medium-sized shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall with a nicely rounded form.
It’s known for its variegated leaves, red winter stems, and clusters of white flowers that bloom in the spring.
This shrub is hardy in Zones 3-7, and its unique leaf coloration and winter stem color make it a visually appealing choice.
Closing Thoughts
Dogwood shrubs are a vibrant and versatile addition to any landscape, offering year-round beauty and attracting a variety of wildlife.
These 16 varieties are perfect for adding color, texture, and wildlife value to your landscape. Each variety has something special to offer, ensuring there’s a dogwood shrub for every garden.