Zone 4 · winter lows -30°F to -20°F

Cornus for Zone 4

31 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.

31 hardy hereof 58 Cornus totalLast frost ~mid-May

The Cornus that thrive in Zone 4

Red Twig Dogwood#1 most saved

Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Red Twig'

Zones 4–7· 114 saves· from $80
Arctic Fire Red Osier Dogwood#2 most saved

Arctic Fire Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire'

Zones 4–7· 101 saves· from $20
Midwinter Fire Dogwood#3 most saved

Midwinter Fire Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

Zones 4–7· 84 saves· from $28
Cardinal Red Osier Dogwood

Cardinal Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'

Zones 4–8· 81 saves· from $70
Golden Dogwood

Golden Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Golden Dogwood'

Zones 4–8· 76 saves
Elegantissima Dogwood

Elegantissima Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves
For the Birds Red Osier Dogwood

For the Birds Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'For the Birds'

Zones 4–7· 71 saves
Tatarian Dogwood

Tatarian Dogwood

Cornus alba

Zones 4–7· 61 saves
Bloodtwig Dogwood

Bloodtwig Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea

Zones 4–7· 60 saves
Siberian Dogwood

Siberian Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Sibirica'

Zones 4–7· 58 saves
Black Stem Dogwood

Black Stem Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Kesselringii'

Zones 4–7· 54 saves
Budd's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Budd's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Budd's Yellow Twig'

Zones 4–7· 53 saves· from $30
Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Bud'

Zones 4–8· 51 saves
Anny's Winter Orange Dogwood

Anny's Winter Orange Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Anny'

Zones 4–7· 47 saves
Kelsey Dogwood

Kelsey Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi'

Zones 4–7· 47 saves
Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood

Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Summer Gold'

Zones 4–8· 45 saves
Coral Bark Dogwood Sgt Pepper

Coral Bark Dogwood Sgt Pepper

Cornus florida 'Sgt Pepper'

Zones 4–9· 43 saves· from $24
Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood

Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Farrow'

Zones 4–7· 40 saves
Isanti Red-Osier Dogwood

Isanti Red-Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Isanti'

Zones 4–7· 33 saves
Silky Dogwood

Silky Dogwood

Cornus amomum

Zones 4–8· 31 saves
Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood

Cornus mas 'Golden Glory'

Zones 4–8· 31 saves
Gray Dogwood

Gray Dogwood

Cornus racemosa

Zones 4–8· 29 saves
Red Osier Dogwood

Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus baileyi

Zones 4–7· 29 saves
Firedance Dogwood

Firedance Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Firedance'

Zones 4–7· 29 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 31 Zone 4–hardy Cornus varieties. See the full Cornus list →

Cornus in Zone 4

Will Cornus survive a Zone 4 winter?

31 of the 58 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

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.

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