Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Cornus for Zone 5

56 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.

56 hardy hereof 58 Cornus totalLast frost ~early May

The Cornus that thrive in Zone 5

Red Twig Dogwood#1 most saved

Red Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Red Twig'

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

Arctic Fire Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Arctic Fire'

Zones 4–7· 100 saves· from $21
Kousa Dogwood#3 most saved

Kousa Dogwood

Cornus kousa

Zones 5–8· 95 saves· from $80
Midwinter Fire Dogwood

Midwinter Fire Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire'

Zones 4–7· 83 saves· from $24
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· 75 saves
Giant Dogwood

Giant Dogwood

Cornus controversa

Zones 5–8· 75 saves
Elegantissima Dogwood

Elegantissima Dogwood

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves
Blue Ray Dogwood

Blue Ray Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Blue Ray'

Zones 5–9· 72 saves
For the Birds Red Osier Dogwood

For the Birds Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'For the Birds'

Zones 4–7· 71 saves
Greensleeves Dogwood

Greensleeves Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Greensleeves'

Zones 5–9· 70 saves
Miss Satomi Dogwood

Miss Satomi Dogwood

Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi'

Zones 5–8· 66 saves
Little Poncho Dogwood

Little Poncho Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Little Poncho'

Zones 5–9· 63 saves
Tatarian Dogwood

Tatarian Dogwood

Cornus alba

Zones 4–7· 61 saves
Bloodtwig Dogwood

Bloodtwig Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea

Zones 4–7· 60 saves
Scarlet Fire Kousa Dogwood

Scarlet Fire Kousa Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Scarlet Fire'

Zones 5–8· 58 saves· from $80
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 $27
Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Bud'

Zones 4–8· 51 saves
Kelsey Dogwood

Kelsey Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Kelseyi'

Zones 4–7· 47 saves
Anny's Winter Orange Dogwood

Anny's Winter Orange Dogwood

Cornus sanguinea 'Anny'

Zones 4–7· 46 saves
Wedding Cake Tree

Wedding Cake Tree

Cornus controversa 'Variegata'

Zones 5–8· 45 saves· from $16
Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood

Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Summer Gold'

Zones 4–8· 45 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 56 Zone 5–hardy Cornus varieties. See the full Cornus list →

Cornus in Zone 5

Will Cornus survive a Zone 5 winter?

56 of the 58 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

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.

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