Scarlet Fire^® Dogwood Tree

A new introduction from Rutgers, Scarlet Fire combines unique color and a long flowering season with disease and pest resistance as well as cold and heat tolerance. Its 5" dark pink and fuchsia flowers last for 6-8 weeks and stand up well in sunny, warm weather. New leaf growth is tinged with purple, and its dark green leaves turn red in the fall. Developed by Dr. Tom Molnar, Scarlet Fire Dogwood is a floriferous and moderately vigorous ornamental tree. In the summer, it develops 1" pink-red fruits that add interest and color. It flowers heavily at 2-4 years and grows to 10' in 8 years. It's a good choice for woodland gardens as well as for screening or privacy. 2-3' bareroot. Cornus kousa 'Scarlet Fire'

Make sure to check out our other dogwood trees for sale.

Is Scarlet Fire dogwood fruit edible?

The fruit of Cornus Kousa, or Kousa Dogwood, is indeed edible, and many gardeners find it to be quite delicious. After the springtime flower display of Scarlet Fire dogwood, it can be counted on to deliver a hefty harvest of red berries, each about one inch in diameter. Those berries start off a pale green, and have a somewhat spiky shape. They're fully ripe when mostly red or crimson. The berries should be slightly soft to the touch-that's how you'll know they're ready for consumption. Now, onto the real question: what do dogwood berries taste like? These berries are anything but bland. They've been described as both sweet and spicy, with a taste vaguely similar to persimmons.

Is Scarlet Fire dogwood deer resistant?

The Scarlet Fire dogwood is both deer-resistant and resistant to several common diseases found among dogwoods. Most Kousa dogwoods are not particularly attractive to deer. That said, young trees of any variety will be of interest to hungry deer, especially when they're still tender and green. Until your tree becomes established, keep it safe using a deer-proof fence. Allow it to grow and develop a hard outer bark before leaving your dogwood to fend for itself.

How much sun can a scarlet fire dogwood tolerate?

A Scarlet Fire Dogwood can handle full sun in most climates, even in warm and sunny locales. This tree is heat resistant to zone nine, so it really won't be put off by a bit of toasty-warm summer weather. In zones up to zone 7, it can handle all-day sun, even on hot days. However, in higher zones, it can be beneficial to provide some afternoon shade for your Scarlet Fire dogwood. Keep your dogwood well-watered in its early years for extra protection against sun damage.

How big does a scarlet fire dogwood tree get?

This is a medium-to-large dogwood tree. You can expect your Scarlet Fire dogwood to grow to a mature height of 20 to 25 feet, so it really is a hallmark of the landscape when fully established-especially thanks to those striking red flowers. However, Scarlet Fire dogwood has a slow to moderate growth rate, so it won't become an instant giant. You can expect your dogwood tree to reach a height of about 10 feet in eight years, and the growth rate will continue at a slow and steady pace until it reaches full height.

When will my order ship?

Plants will be shipped at the proper planting time for your area of the country during the shipping timeframes outlined below:

2024 Spring Shipping Schedule
Zone	Select Trees
3A-4B	3/25/24 - 6/7/24
5A	3/11/24 -6/7/24
5B	2/26/24 - 6/7/24
6A	2/26/24 - 6/7/24
6B	2/26/24 - 6/7/24
7A & 7B	2/5/24 - 6/7/24
8A-8B	2/5/24 - 5/10/24
9A - 10B	2/5/24 - 5/10/24
Last Order Date	Zones 3A - 7B: 6/3/24 Zones 8A - 10B: 5/6/24