Zone 8 · winter lows 10°F to 20°F
Cornus for Zone 8
40 Cornus varieties rated hardy through Zone 8, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 8 is mild winters open the door to broadleaf evergreens and early bloom.
The Cornus that thrive in Zone 8
#1 most savedKousa Dogwood
Cornus kousa
#2 most savedCardinal Red Osier Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'
#3 most savedGiant Dogwood
Cornus controversa
Golden Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Golden Dogwood'
Elegantissima Dogwood
Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'
Blue Ray Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Blue Ray'
Greensleeves Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Greensleeves'
Miss Satomi Dogwood
Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi'
Little Poncho Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Little Poncho'
Scarlet Fire Kousa Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Scarlet Fire'
Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Bud'
Wedding Cake Tree
Cornus controversa 'Variegata'
Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Summer Gold'
Coral Bark Dogwood Sgt Pepper
Cornus florida 'Sgt Pepper'
Cherokee Princess Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Cherokee Princess'
Cherokee Chief Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief'
Cherokee Brave Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Comco No 1'
Pink Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Rubra'
Cloud Nine Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Cloud Nine'
Super Princess Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Super Princess'
Samaritan Kousa Dogwood
Cornus kousa ssp 'Samaritan Kousa'
Jean Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida 'Jean'
Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood
Cornus mas 'Golden Glory'
Silky Dogwood
Cornus amomum
Showing the 24 most-saved of 40 Zone 8–hardy Cornus varieties. See the full Cornus list →
Cornus in Zone 8
Will Cornus survive a Zone 8 winter?
40 of the 58 Cornus varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 8, where winter lows reach 10°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 8?
In Zone 8 the last spring frost typically lands around late March and the first fall frost around mid-November. 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 8?
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 8 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.