The Cloudburst dogwood is a fast-growing deciduous hybrid dogwood in the Cornaceae family bred by Dr Tom Ranney of NCSU. Parentage is C. florida (native) and C. kousa (Asian). It was developed for larger white bracts, disease resistance and fall color. Cloudburst dogwood grows 18 to 20 feet tall and 15 to 18 feet wide with a rounded canopy. Provide it with morning sun and afternoon shade in moist, acidic, well-drained soils. It is adaptable to most soil types. It is salt-tolerant. Springtime brings a breathtaking display of large showy white bracts that surround the center of green florets. In fall, the green leaves turn brilliant colors of red, yellow, and orange. Cloudburst dogwood can be used as an accent or specimen to add color to the landscape. Use as an understory flowering tree, in a woodland garden or as a shade tree. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mildly resistant to powdery mildew, leaf spot, leaf scorch and moderately resistant to root rot. Watch for dogwood borer, scale insects and dogwood club-gall Midge. See insect pests of dogwoods to the left.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 18 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Thick glossy green leaves with good fall colors in red, yellow and orange.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Large white bracts surround the small green center florets in spring before leaf-out.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruit is a glossy, bright, shiny red oval drupe (0.5 inch) in tight clusters of 3 or 4 that are bitter and inedible to humans but loved by birds and squirels. They display from August to October.
Bark color
Dark Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Flowers attract pollinators and fruits attract birds and small mammals.
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Woodland
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Accent; Flowering Tree; Shade Tree; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#accent #bird friendly #deciduous tree #disease resistant #fall color #fast growing #flowering tree #morning sun #nci #shade garden #showy flowers #specimen #spring flowers #understory tree #white flowers #wildlife friendly #woodland garden
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Dogwood Pest Management Calendar; Insect Pests of Dogwood in North Carolina