Pacific Dogwood
'Fall color'Cornus nuttallii
Cornaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · native
Last updated
Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii, Cornaceae) is a native deciduous tree ranging from just beyond Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to southern California, with a disjunct population in north-central Idaho. It reaches 20 to 40 feet in cultivation (occasionally 60 to 70 feet) with 4 to 8 creamy-white (rarely pink) bracts (5 to 8 centimeters each) subtending 30 to 40 small greenish flowers. Bloom occurs from April to June, sometimes repeating in fall. Orange-red fruit ripens in dense globular clusters from late August to October.
Pacific dogwood grows in sun to part shade on well-drained soils (pH 5.5 to 7.0) with moderate water needs and low drought tolerance, hardy in Zones 6a to 8b. It is long-lived with resprout ability, reaching about 12 feet at 20 years. It tolerates deer browse, clay soil, and black walnut proximity. The species is sensitive to stress and bark can be damaged by hot sun. Disease associations include anthracnose, powdery mildew, Armillaria root rot, and others; pest associations include various scale insects, dogwood sawfly, and flea beetle. The cultivar 'Goldspot' (variegated, 40 feet) is in the trade. It is the provincial flower of British Columbia.
Native understory tree found naturally in mixed conifer forests throughout the Puget Sound lowlands. Wild populations have declined significantly since the arrival of Discula destructiva (dogwood anthracnose) in the 1990s, particularly in forest settings with poor air circulation and persistent canopy moisture. Cultivated landscape specimens in open sites with good airflow perform substantially better than forest counterparts. Six years of Kent weather data (2020-2025) show 55% of March-May days have conditions favorable for anthracnose infection (cool temperatures with precipitation). Eddie's White Wonder (C. nuttallii x C. florida), developed in Vancouver BC in 1955, is the most widely planted anthracnose-resistant hybrid with C. nuttallii parentage in this region; used by the City of Seattle Trees for Neighborhoods program. source: Guide research 2026-05-29; Kent weather archive 2020-2025; WSU HortSense; City of Seattle Trees for Neighborhoods; Great Plant Picks
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Site Requirements
Ornamental Interest
Active Conidial Spread
Crawler Emergence
Active Below-ground Growth
Spring Feeding & Egg Production
+ 1 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Diseases: Regionally Documented (7)
Pests: Regionally Documented (6)
Phenological Calendar
As of June 3, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2435.5 to 2672.8 GDD₃₂. Pacific Dogwood has passed 'fall color' (1715 GDD₃₂).
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 3, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,673 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,665 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 2,610 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,570 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 2,535 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 2,533 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 2,436 | 'Fall color' | — | — |
View full calendar (7 stages)
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| 'Bud break' BBCH '07' | 980 | 'Late March to mid-April' |
| 'Leaf emergence' BBCH '11' | 1142 | 'Mid to late April' |
| 'Flower buds visible' BBCH '51' | 1154 | 'Mid-April to early May' |
| 'First bloom' BBCH '61' | 1263 | 'Late April to June' |
| 'Fruit ripe' BBCH '89' | — | 'September to October' |
| ● 'Fall color' BBCH '92' NOW | 1715 | 'October' |
| 'Second bloom' BBCH '61' | — | 'August to September' |
Source: 'NPN citizen science observations (WA+OR), n=14, median. services.usanpn.org' About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 3, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 19, 2026, then climate normals.