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Re: DOGWOODS

Hi Mary,

Don't remember seeing a response to this one, so FWIW.   C. florida can be
propagated by seed or cuttings.  Cuttings taken immediately after flower
drop rooted in 3 weeks, according to Dirr.  He also says you can take
softwood cuttings in June, treat with 10,000 ppm IBA quick dip and root
under mist - best in sand/peat combo.  You need to let the rooted cuttings
go through a dormant period and then pot them on when growth begins.  

Seed needs 100 to 130 days at 41F.   I have a lot of C. florida and
seedlings pop up all over in the spring from the previous fall's berries,
so my theory is that they need winter chill like they would get in Nature. 
 I'm trying seed in pots left out for the winter - so far no germination,
but I may have waited too long to plant the cleaned seed and sent it into
further dormancy.   Did a little research for a friend to whom I sent seed
and apparently it is best to remove the pulp from the berry immediately
since it can heat up enough to kill the seed in storage.   If I had my act
together I should have planted the seed immediately in the fall and left it
outside all winter.  If the batch I tried last year doesn't work, that's
what I mean to do this fall.

It appears that other members of the Cornus family respond differently to
propagation by cuttings, some rooting from bits stuck in the soil, but not
C. florida.  I know C. sericea 'Flaviramea' is very anxious to self layer
whenever the opportunity arises.

Hope this helps,

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
http://www.suite101.com

----------
> From: Mary Satchell <satch@eos.net>
> To: SEEDS-LIST@eskimo.com
> Subject: DOGWOODS
> Date: Wednesday, April 30, 1997 9:05 AM
> 
> Hi everyone-
> With the Dogwoods just starting to come out here in Cincinnati, Ohio,
> I was wondering if anyone has ever propogated these beautiful trees
> successfully. Is it best to do a cutting?
> Thanks, Mary Satchell
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