Honest review: Dogwood is rewarding but root encroachment near drains or house foundations is real

Dogwood is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: root encroachment near drains or house foundations. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage.

Beyond that, multi-decade investment that improves year on year makes it one of my favourites in the collection. I keep it in a garden focal point visible from the house windows which suits it well. Learning about formative pruning in the first five years to build a clear leader has been essential. full canopy providing shade and habitat in summer is worth waiting for — the plant really justifies itself then. Four stars because of that persistent issue.