How to tell dogwood from redbud

Flowering dogwood (*Cornus florida*) and eastern redbud (*Cercis canadensis*) are two of the most striking spring-blooming understory trees in eastern North America. They often bloom simultaneously and share a similar size range and habitat, which leads to confusion -- especially from a distance,.

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) and eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) are two of the most striking spring-blooming understory trees in eastern North America. They often bloom simultaneously and share a similar size range and habitat, which leads to confusion — especially from a distance, when both appear to be clouds of white or pink flowers in the woodland edge. Up close, however, the two trees are not closely related and their features are quite different.

Flower identification

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

What most people call "dogwood flowers" are technically bracts — modified leaves that surround the true flowers. Per NC State Extension, each apparent "flower" consists of four white (occasionally pink) bracts, each with a distinctive notch at the tip, surrounding a tight central cluster of 20–30 tiny, true yellow-green flowers. The bracts serve to attract pollinators to the small true flowers.

Dogwood blooms in early to mid-spring, usually before or simultaneous with leaf emergence. The white bracts are 1.5–2 inches long each, giving the full "flower" cluster a diameter of 3–4 inches. Pink forms are cultivated selections; the wild species produces white bracts.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Redbud is a member of the legume family (Fabaceae). Per Missouri Botanical Garden, its flowers are small, pea-shaped (papilionaceous), and emerge directly on branches and older wood — even on the main trunk of mature trees. This characteristic, called cauliflory, is dramatic and diagnostic.

Flowers are typically magenta-pink to rose-purple, emerging in clusters of 4–8 before leaves appear. The white cultivar 'Alba' exists but is uncommon. Per Clemson HGIC, redbud blooms 1–2 weeks before or simultaneous with dogwood in most of its range — zone 4 to 9.