Ragin' Red Dogwood - Cornus florida 'JN13'

The Ragin' Red Dogwood is new to the market this year and in high demand. We are thrilled to have some for you. What makes us so excited? Simply put, this tree has a quality we've never seen in a dogwood. The new leaves emerge bright red in the spring and transition slowly to green as the summer wears on. For those looking for an interesting and unique display in their yard, this tree checks the boxes.

In spring, expect red dogwood blooms - as red as Cherokee Chief - on bare branches. As the blooms begin to fade, unique bright red foliage emerges, which accentuates the aging blooms with additional shades of vibrant red. The leaves continue to grow through spring and emerge red, transition to a darker burgundy red, and then transform to a darker green as they age. Through the entire growing season, the tree continues to look like it was air-brushed with red paint. The red will fade with the summer heat, but before long the cooler temperatures of fall seem to reverse the coloration process. Red, purple and orange slowly work back into the green canopy before completely overtaking it in a grade finale. Those who visit our store often, know that we think the dogwood has one of the best displays of fall color.

Since this tree is brand new, we don't have one planted yet at the nursery. We do, of course, have a spot picked out for one. We plan to use it as a specimen tree to offset the bright greens of spring. We plan to plant it in a spot that will get morning sun and afternoon shade (as soon as that maple tree grows!), which is the best situation for a dogwood. That said, this tree is adaptable to many lighting conditions, from full-sun all the way to dappled light. If planted in full sun, care should be taken to protect the tree from dry periods during the summer, especially in poorer soil conditions.

Lastly, this tree was spotted and cultivated by Ray & Cindy Jackson. We appreciate them letting us in on the fun.

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.

Ragin' Red Dogwood - Cornus florida 'JN13'

Soil quality and how to plant the Ragin' Red Dogwood

The Ragin Red, like most dogwood trees prefers consistently moist soil that is rich in organic matter. This means that compaction should be addressed by digging as large a hole as possible. We recommend a minimum of 3x3 ft. and digging at least 18 inches deep to break up the soil. Remove the grass, but retain as much of the original soil. A higher quality soil can be supplemented, but use no more than a 30% new to 70% original soil ratio. Too much new soil can cause water to pool in the hole, which will drown and kill the plant. With dogwoods, mulching is extremely important as it suppresses grass and weeds, retains moisture, improves soil quality and reduces the chances of compaction from foot or mower traffic. For more specific details on how to plant see our guide.

For dogwoods a slow release fertilizer is recommended for optimal growth. A soil test is recommend for accurate fertilization, but a general NPK + micronutrients slow release fertilizer will cover the basis if a test is not performed. We recommend a 10-11 month slow release fertilizer be applied each year as a top dress in the mulch around the growing area. Apply this fertilizer prior to spring, so that the tree has access to nutrients in the spring and fall growing periods.