Zone 8 · winter lows 10°F to 20°F

Cornus for Zone 8

39 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.

39 hardy hereof 56 Cornus totalLast frost ~late March

The Cornus that thrive in Zone 8

#1 most saved

Kousa Dogwood

Cornus kousa

Zones 5–8· 81 saves· from $80

#2 most saved

Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree

Cornus controversa

Zones 5–8· 73 saves· from $89

#3 most saved

Red Osier Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Cardinal'

Zones 4–8· 72 saves· from $30

Golden Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Golden Dogwood'

Zones 4–8· 69 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

Scarlet Fire Kousa Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Scarlet Fire'

Zones 5–8· 51 saves· from $100

Bud's Yellow Twig Dogwood

Cornus sericea 'Bud'

Zones 4–8· 43 saves

Wedding Cake Tree

Cornus controversa 'Variegata'

Zones 5–8· 41 saves

Summer Gold Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Summer Gold'

Zones 4–8· 37 saves

Cherokee Princess Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Cherokee Princess'

Zones 5–9· 34 saves· from $100

Coral Bark Dogwood Sgt Pepper

Cornus florida 'Sgt Pepper'

Zones 4–9· 34 saves· from $22

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Cloud Nine'

Zones 5–9· 30 saves

Cherokee Brave Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Comco No 1'

Zones 5–9· 30 saves

Pink Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Rubra'

Zones 5–9· 28 saves

Cherokee Chief Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Cherokee Chief'

Zones 5–9· 28 saves· from $98

Super Princess Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Super Princess'

Zones 5–9· 26 saves· from $70

Celestial Dogwood

Cornus 'Rutdan'

Zones 5–8· 25 saves

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Jean'

Zones 5–9· 25 saves

Kay's Appalachian Mist Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Kay'S Appalachian Mist'

Zones 5–9· 23 saves

Appalachian Spring Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring'

Zones 5–9· 23 saves

Showing the 24 most-saved of 39 Zone 8–hardy Cornus varieties. See the full Cornus list →

Cornus in Zone 8

Will Cornus survive a Zone 8 winter?

39 of the 56 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

All Cornus

Every Cornus variety (56)

Cornus in other zones

More for Zone 8

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.