‘Scarlet Fire’ Dogwood Tree

Cornus kousa ‘Rutpink’ PP #28,311

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Flowering Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-20′

Width at Maturity: 15-20′

Spacing: 15′ or more from home, structures, and other trees

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Rounded Vase shape

Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate

Flower Color: Pink fading to Deep Fuschia-Pink with tinge of Green followed by abundant Red berries

Flower Size: 5″ in diameter

Flowering Period: Late Spring to Early Summer

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Berries: Yes, 1′ diameter – abundant and edible!

Berry Color: Red

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Sun Needs: Mostly Sun to Part Shade or All Day Filtered or Dappled Sun

Water Needs: Average, Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.5 (Acidic to Slightly Acidic)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low Maintenance when left to grow naturally

Attracts: Visual Attention, Songbirds. Wildlife

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Insects

Description

In 45 years of plant breeding, ‘Scarlet Fire’ is the first Corna kousa it has ever bed and introduced…and boy is it a beauty! This new cultivar is the darkest and most consistently pink selection with massive 5 inch diameter deep pink to fuchsia coloration at its peak. The brilliant colored glowing flower bracts are truly stunning in the landscape from up close and afar, and appear for over a course of about 6 weeks. Exceptionally floriferous, the original tree flowered very heavy at only 4 years old and budded trees can set many floral buds only after two growing seasons!

The foliage of Scarlet Fire emerges green with purple streaking that eventually becomes solid green by summer. The late spring flower show is followed by a second act of abundant and large 1″ diameter red edible berries that the birds and other wildlife will thank you for.

If you’ve been afraid to plant a Dogwood tree for fear of disease and/or borer problems, fear not. The dependable Cornus kousa, of which ‘Scarlet Fire’ is one, has demonstrated excellent resistance to both the dogwood borer and anthracnose disease. In some areas of the U.S., anthracnose has almost wiped out many of the native dogwoods, Cornus florida. Not only does Cornus kousa result in a tree with stronger vigor and resistance to insect and disease, it will look and grow better in full sun than other dogwood species.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 15 to 20 feet tall and equally as wide over time, the the Scarlet Fire Dogwood is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or in a staggered row in sunny or shady landscape or woodland borders. Also nice to frame the corners of tall homes and to provide beauty and some shade around patios, porches and other outdoor living spaces. A fine addition to woodland gardens, pink theme gardens, Asian theme gardens, wildlife gardens, and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 22′ or more for space between trees

Growing Preferences

Dogwood trees are adaptable to many soil types however prefer a moist but well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Though Dogwood trees will tolerate full sun, we think they look and perform best with some shade or filtered sun during the hottest part of summer afternoons.Constantly soggy or wet soils are problematic. Maintenance is minimal to none. Except to remove a stray or broken branch, no pruning is necessary.

Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop computer monitors or below on mobile devices.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Questions? Contact Us!

The tree arrived in good shape and nicely hydrated. Planting instructions are posted online. Tree looks very healthy and we’re eager to watch it grow. Thanks!———————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This is a wonderful tree, ours arrived healthy and packaged well. The foliage is vibrant and colorful. I would recommend this beautiful tree to anyone looking to plant a dogwood variety.—————————————————-Thanks so much for the photos! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beautiful, fully leafed out, 5-6′ tree was shipped to me in very well packed box. The tree purchased in very early spring of 2022 had a nice shape, canopy and arrived in perfect condition. It has been planted per instructions and is adapting nicely to my zone. Best ever overall satisfaction and experience with this company buying and shipping of live plant material.—————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Surprised with care given in quick shipping and packaging efforts. Both larger well rooted dogwoods and shaped plants were individually packaged in their own containers securely ‘mounted’ in heavy shipping boxes. The extra cost of plants from Wilson Bros was evident in not only the plants themselves but delivery efforts made. Thank you.————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Overall great experience. Tree was well packaged and a beautiful specimen. I’m looking forward to it blooming.————————————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Tree arrived dormant, but is clearly very healthy and strong. Packaged very well for shipping. Larger than I expected. I can’t wait to see the blooms!—————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

The two trees arrived when temps in teens and snow in forecast. Kept in boxes and put in shed due to weather. Received 6” of snow and still had temps in teens and unpacked trees from boxes on third day, putting in garden tubs to water them and moved into garage. Finally able to plant week after receiving them. Looking forward to spring and pleased with the good looking trees shipped.——————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Beautiful tree.————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered this tree from Wilson Brothers because I couldn’t find it locally. Yes, some of the prices initially appear to be high, but I’ve priced trees at some of the local garden centers and the prices are not really that far off, especially since they ship it right to your door. Anyway, the tree was quickly shipped and well packaged. The tree was shipped in a pot, and I was able to plant it immediately. The tree appeared to be of good quality, and was bent a bit to fit in the box, which I prefer to having the top simply chopped off. I’ve been ordering plants through mail order for many years, and this was one if the nicer trees I’ve received.————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

5 gallon tree arrived in perfect condition, no leaves lost in transit, healthy and bigger than expected. Planted same day in front yard and appears to be thriving. Very satisfied with purchase. Wilson Bros is hands down my favorite online plant nursery. Efficient, prompt, professional and superb customer service. Simply the best.—————————————-Wow! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Had very good communication with Wilson Bros and the little dogwood arrived in good shape and seems healthy. My only qualm is the trunk has a distinct lean after about 20 inches from the ground. I wrote for advice and have since re-arranged supports to help it grow straighter over time . I probably wouldn’t have chosen this tree if buying in person, but there wasn’t any availability locally & I’m grateful to have it planted this season – so I’m hoping it will work out.——————————-Thanks for the photo, I’m sure it will be fine, sometimes we have to help them out a bit. We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

My Scarlet Fire Dogwood arrived on time and in excellent condition. I never ordered a 5foot tree online before and I was nervous about what it would look like when it arrived.
I was very pleased. The customer service dept. answered all of my questions very quickly .
I will be ordering again in the Spring,————————————–Thanks for the photo! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I bought two of these to replace two old, failing white dogwoods. The plants arrived in under one week from order and were securely packaged, although they were delivered laying on their sides and appeared to be marked that way. Nevertheless, because the pots were well-wrapped, very little dirt spilled out. They’ve only been in the ground for just shy of two weeks so it’s really a bit early for a review. I intend to update this next Spring. [FYI, this was my second purchase from Wilson Bros. The three plants I bought last March are all doing well.]—————————————–Keep us posted! Thanks for the photo. We are so glad you are pleased with your purchases! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Thank you for such an outstanding Cornus ‘Scarlet Fire’ that arrived as a re-placement this afternoon. Truly large, well branched,and healthy.. Best wishes and stay safe and healthy.——————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I was so nervous…spending well over a hundred on an online/shipped 5 gal tree. But the communication was good… from ordering through tracking/delivery. My tree looks fantastic. I would do it again with out hesitating. Highly Recommend!!—————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG