Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Cornus for Zone 4

30 Cornus varieties rated hardy through Zone 4, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 4 is short, intense seasons — plants here are the toughest in the catalog.

30 hardy hereof 56 Cornus totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Cornus that thrive in Zone 4

#1 most saved

Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Red Twig'

Zones 4–7· 98 saves

#2 most saved

Arctic Fire Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire'

Zones 4–7· 87 saves· from $20

#3 most saved

Midwinter Fire Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

Zones 4–7· 78 saves· from $30

Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves· from $30

Golden Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Golden Dogwood'

Zones 4–8· 69 saves

Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'For the Birds'

Zones 4–7· 67 saves

Elegantissima Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

Zones 4–8· 67 saves

Bloodtwig Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea

Zones 4–7· 59 saves· from $21

Tatarian Dogwood

Cornus alba

Zones 4–7· 56 saves

Siberian Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Sibirica'

Zones 4–7· 48 saves

Black Stem Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Kesselringii'

Zones 4–7· 48 saves

Budd's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Budd's Yellow Twig'

Zones 4–7· 45 saves· from $30

Kelsey Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi'

Zones 4–7· 45 saves

Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Bud'

Zones 4–8· 43 saves

Anny's Winter Orange Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Anny'

Zones 4–7· 40 saves

Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Summer Gold'

Zones 4–8· 37 saves

Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Farrow'

Zones 4–7· 35 saves

Coral Bark Dogwood Sgt Pepper

Cornus florida 'Sgt Pepper'

Zones 4–9· 34 saves· from $22

Isanti Red-Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Isanti'

Zones 4–7· 24 saves

Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus baileyi

Zones 4–7· 21 saves

Gray Dogwood

Cornus racemosa

Zones 4–8· 21 saves

Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Cornus mas 'Golden Glory'

Zones 4–8· 21 saves

Bergeson Compact Dogwood

Cornus 'Bergeson Compact'

Zones 4–7· 20 saves

Saffron Sentinel Cornelian Cherry

Cornus mas 'Saffron Sentinel'

Zones 4–8· 19 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 30 Zone 4–hardy Cornus varieties. See the full Cornus list →

Cornus in Zone 4

Will Cornus survive a Zone 4 winter?

30 of the 56 Cornus varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 4, where winter lows reach -30°F to -20°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Cornus in Zone 4?

In Zone 4 the last spring frost typically lands around mid-May and the first fall frost around late September. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Cornus is best for Zone 4?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Cornus

Every Cornus variety (56)

Cornus in other zones

More for Zone 4

See Cornus in your Zone 4 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.