Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Cornus for Zone 5

54 Cornus varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

54 hardy hereof 56 Cornus totalLast frost ~early May

The Cornus that thrive in Zone 5

#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

Kousa Dogwood

Cornus kousa

Zones 5–8· 81 saves· from $80

Midwinter Fire Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

Zones 4–7· 78 saves· from $30

Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree

Cornus controversa

Zones 5–8· 73 saves· from $89

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

Miss Satomi Dogwood

Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi'

Zones 5–8· 63 saves

Greensleeves Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Greensleeves'

Zones 5–9· 63 saves· from $150

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Blue Ray'

Zones 5–9· 61 saves

Little Poncho Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Little Poncho'

Zones 5–9· 60 saves

Bloodtwig Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea

Zones 4–7· 59 saves· from $21

Tatarian Dogwood

Cornus alba

Zones 4–7· 56 saves

Scarlet Fire Kousa Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Scarlet Fire'

Zones 5–8· 51 saves· from $100

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

Wedding Cake Tree

Cornus controversa 'Variegata'

Zones 5–8· 41 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

Showing the 24 most-saved of 54 Zone 5–hardy Cornus varieties. See the full Cornus list →

Cornus in Zone 5

Will Cornus survive a Zone 5 winter?

54 of the 56 Cornus varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°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 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. 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 5?

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 5

See Cornus in your Zone 5 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.