Dogwoods are one of the best selections you can plant. They have a year round quality and change their appearance throughout the year. Spring is a profuse floral display in whites, pinks, or yellows. Most people plant Cornus florida, the eastern native species, but that does not grow so well for us in the west. The native C. nuttallii is also temperamental about cultural conditions and often dies if these are not met exactly. What I recommend here are the hybrids (C. florida x C. kousa and C. nuttallii x C. kousa) as well as C. kousa in its great variety, and C. capitata(the more common evergreen) and C. angustata (which is like an evergreen C. kousa). C. kousa cvs. are later blooming dogwoods. The same for the evergren species and cvs. They are in full bloom now, or just beginning. Their later bloom period extends the floral season and they tend to stay in bloom much longer, up to and over 1 month. Here you will find excellent subject with year round quality for the landscape. they have wonderfully profuse displays of blossoms in spring, then showy ornamental reddish fruits in summer, fall and even into winter, and fall colors, and then attractive horizontal branching with delicate twigs arranged in eye catching tiers which hold dew, raindrops or frost crystals like thousands of mini Christmas lights all over the tree. Flower bracts(what look like petals) are pointed and star shaped. They can be white or pink. They can also last a very long time! Over 1 month in good condition is not unusual. Foliage is attractive in dark glossy green, many cvs. have attractive white glaucous leaf undersides which flash their color in the breeze. They are moderate growers of easy care, provided you give them plenty of water(think monsoon) and good drainage, and fertile soil. They will grow well and actually bloom better in full sun(more sun, more water, = more flowers) The variegated forms will appreciate some shading from the hot afternoon sun to help prevent sunburn on the leaves. Then you just sit back and wait for them to mature. The mature dimension for most dogwoods is 20 ft tall x 20 ft wide and it takes some years to fill that space, but each year gets better and better as the plants grow. There are also weeping and dwarf forms, all showy in their way.
The evergreen species and cvs. are wonderful accents and specimen plants for any landscape. They offer all the wonderful attributes of dogwoods, but have the additional advantage of holding their leaves year round(for those that want a small evergreen tree). Flowers are also profuse in display and here is where you can find the yellow tones in the blossoms. C. capitata has light yellow flowers, medium gray green foliage, and makes a larger tree in time/ great age. up to 45 ft tall and wide by some British mentions on trees 100 years old. Tens of thousands of blossoms all over the tree. Truly spectacular. The cv. Mountain Moon is a lavish selection with very large, lush blossoms in ivory white. The foliage is also attractive in dark shiny leathery leaves, and provides a very attractive backround to those blooms. C. Summer Passion is another evergreen of entirely different appearance. It is finer textured with its wavy, very gossy leaves. In winter they are purple, the new growth is coppery, aging to bronze green, mature leaves are dark shiny and wavy. Growth habit is slender upright, main branches arch outward, and the branchlets are pendulous and full. This branchig habit is distinct and allows the pristive white star like blossoms to be seen to advantage easily as they face the viewer. (Other dogwoods tend to hold blooms on top of the horizontal branches so you get the best view of them from above the branches.)
The tree is narrow in spread and looks like a Ficus benjamina to the casual observer, but it is wonderfully spectacular!
C. angustata is an evergreen C. kousa. No higher praise could be given. Horizontal branches and star like blossoms in white and profuse are its hallmarks.
All of these are easier care and give great rewards for the cultivation effort. And you get the benefit of having a small tree that all your neighbors will enjoy as much as you do!