Gift that became an obsession — Dogwood

Someone gave me Dogwood as a birthday gift and I barely knew what it was. Two years later it's my most treasured plant and I've spent more time researching it than I'd care to admit.

The key discovery was formative pruning in the first five years to build a clear leader — once that clicked, the plant transformed. canopy habitat for birds, insects, and wildlife is what gets mentioned every time anyone visits. I keep it in a specimen on a lawn as a traditional statement tree which works perfectly. blossom or leaf burst in spring creating dramatic transformation is when I understand why this plant has such devoted followers. honey fungus affecting roots especially on stressed trees is the one ongoing challenge but it's worth the effort.