Cornus — 26 species

Cornus is a diverse genus of dogwoods ranging from compact shrubs like red-twig dogwood (grown for vivid winter stems) to multi-stemmed ornamentals such as Siberian dogwood and common dogwood. Most species thrive in full sun to partial shade, with woodland types preferring dappled light and stem-colour cultivars performing best in open positions. They need consistently moist, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil and roughly one to two inches of water per week. Toxicity varies across the genus, so check each species before introducing one to a pet household.