Ragin' Red Dogwood

Ragin' Red Dogwood (Cornus florida 'JN13')

Ragin' Red Dogwood is a bold red-flowering selection of native flowering dogwood valued for its rich spring color, red new growth, and strong seasonal appeal. Its deep red bracts create a dramatic spring display that stands out in front yards, entry gardens, woodland edges, and mixed borders. After flowering, the tree continues to offer interest with colorful foliage, red fruit, and attractive fall tones. With its manageable size and classic dogwood structure, Ragin' Red Dogwood brings native character, vivid color, and refined small-tree form to well-sited residential landscapes.

Distinctive Features

Ragin' Red Dogwood produces deep red spring bracts around small true flowers, giving the tree one of the richer bloom colors among flowering dogwood selections. New foliage can emerge red before maturing to darker green to red-tinged tones, adding color beyond the bloom season. The tree develops a small ornamental form with layered branching and a rounded to broadly spreading canopy as it matures. Red berries may appear in late summer to fall, attracting birds and pairing with fall foliage that can include burgundy, red, orange, yellow, and purple tones.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Grows best in full sun to partial shade, with afternoon shade helpful in hot or exposed locations.
• Soil: Prefers fertile, acidic, well-drained soil with good organic matter and steady root-zone moisture.
• Water: Performs best with medium, even moisture, especially during establishment, drought, and extended summer heat.
• USDA Zones: Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: Typically reaches about 15 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide with age.
• Habit: Forms a small deciduous ornamental tree with layered branching and a rounded to broadly spreading canopy.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use as a vivid spring-flowering focal point in front yards, entry gardens, courtyards, or small lawn areas where its red bracts can stand out.
• Woodland Edge: Plant along woodland margins or lightly shaded garden edges where it can receive filtered light and consistent moisture.
• Mixed Border: Add to layered shrub and perennial borders for spring flowers, colorful foliage, fall color, wildlife value, and small-tree structure.
• Foundation Planting: Use near larger homes or broad foundation beds where a colorful ornamental tree can soften architecture without overwhelming the space.
• Wildlife Garden: Include in bird-friendly landscapes where its red berries can add seasonal food value and ornamental color.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Water deeply during the first few seasons and during dry periods to maintain even soil moisture without keeping the soil saturated.
• Mulching: Apply a broad mulch ring to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce competition from turfgrass.
• Pruning: Prune lightly during dormancy or after flowering to remove dead, damaged, crossing, or crowded branches while preserving the natural layered form.
• Fertilizing: Fertilize only when needed based on soil conditions, avoiding excessive nitrogen that can encourage weak or overly soft growth.
• Deer Protection: Protect young trees from deer browsing and trunk rubbing in landscapes with moderate to heavy deer pressure.
• Site Care: Provide good air circulation, avoid planting too deeply, and keep mulch pulled back from the trunk to support long-term health.

Why Choose Ragin' Red Dogwood?

• Deep Red Blooms: Produces rich red spring bracts that create a stronger color statement than many traditional flowering dogwoods.
• Colorful New Growth: Offers red new foliage that adds ornamental interest after the flower display has finished.
• Seasonal Interest: Provides spring flowers, summer foliage color, red berries, and burgundy to multicolor fall foliage.
• Native Character: Brings the familiar beauty and wildlife value of Cornus florida into designed garden spaces.
• Manageable Size: Fits residential landscapes where a smaller ornamental tree is more practical than a large shade tree.

Ragin' Red Dogwood is an excellent choice for gardeners who want the native beauty of flowering dogwood with richer spring color and added foliage interest. Its deep red blooms, red new growth, fall color, bird-friendly berries, and graceful structure make it a standout ornamental tree for well-sited landscapes with fertile soil, steady moisture, and the right balance of sun and shade.