Dogwood Blight? - Ask Extension
This is my second dogwood planted in this location and it bloomed in spring but appears to be struggling now. It’s been there since the fall of 2023...
Knowledgebase
Dogwood Blight? #912017
Asked July 30, 2025, 1:07 PM EDT
This is my second dogwood planted in this location and it bloomed in spring but appears to be struggling now. It’s been there since the fall of 2023. The leaves all seem to be getting dark from the center out and if I Touch them they fall off. Also the bark is separating at the base of the tree. With all the rain we have had I can’t imagine It is from lack of water. I stopped into the store where I bought this originally and they were not sure what is going on and suggested I send to you. Any ideas on what I can do to try and save this tree?
Carroll County Maryland
Expert Response
The browning appears to be scorch, which is a physiological symptom of weather stress rather than a pest or disease issue. That said, this type of symptom can overlap in appearance with powdery mildew infection, which on dogwoods doesn't always manifest as the namesake white-gray powdery coating on the leaves.
Is this a Kousa (Cornus kousa) or a native (Cornus florida) dogwood, or a hybrid (Cornus florida x kousa)? The foliage looks like that of a Kousa dogwood, but it's hard to tell. We ask because there are some attribute and vulnerability differences between them. Our native dogwood tends to get stressed and prone to sunscald/scorch in hot weather when growing in locations that are exposed to lots of summer sun. Kousa dogwoods tend to be a bit more resilient when it comes to heat and drought stress. The degree of resistance to powdery mildew varies among the native dogwood cultivars, with wild types generally being most susceptible. Kousa dogwoods tend to be fairly resistant. Stressed or injured dogwoods (such as those with lawn mower or string trimmer wounds on the lower trunk) can be targets for Dogwood Borer, a moth whose larva tunnels into the wood, and Kousa dogwoods have more resistance to that insect than the native dogwood. Hybrid dogwoods fall in-between their two parents in regards to all of those factors.
As Kousa dogwood matures, the bark on the trunk naturally flakes off and sheds. However, it's unusual to see that on a tree this young, so it may be a symptom of a more serious problem. Bark can detach when the wood below it dies and dries out, though in that case we'd expect to see more drastic leaf symptoms than what's pictured.
You can check the tree's planting depth, and try to make sure it's not being watered too much. As you noted, we're getting plentiful rains in many areas, so under-watering is less likely. All three of these dogwoods don't handle over-watering or poor drainage well. Before root rot became advanced enough to wilt or defoliate the tree, early-stage damage could manifest as scorch, because soil that stays too wet can kill roots (and because the remaining roots aren't functioning fully, because some were lost or infected, then the canopy can't get all of the moisture it needs).
We can't see the trunk base clearly, but check to see if the tree was planted too deeply, which can exacerbate environmental stress and make roots more vulnerable to soil sogginess. The root flare should be just visible at the soil surface; this is the location where major roots connect to the trunk. Often, nursery-grown trees wind-up several inches too deep in their pots (or burlap) before they are installed, and if this is not corrected upon planting, it can affect long-term tree health. You can use the information on the linked pages to gently dig around the trunk base to look for the location of the flare.
To determine how damp or dry the soil is with regards to watering needs, feel the soil around six inches deep next to the roots. If it feels somewhat dry to the touch at that depth, watering may benefit the plant if the weather continues to be dry (or if heavy but brief downpours aren't soaking in enough). If the soil is damp at that depth, watering won't be needed.
If that's a spotlight we see in the photo: many night-flying insects are attracted to light, and while not all of them are plant pests, you might want to reconsider lighting the tree after dark in case it's contributing to tree stress or giving certain insects easy access to a host plant. Trees generally grow best without unnatural sources of light at night, which can impact both pest insect activity and the activity of predators that consume those pests and keep their numbers suppressed.
If the bark is separating due to sapwood damage in the trunk (or a related issue, like some root loss or borers tunneling in the wood), then there is no treatment. Sometimes, though, this can occur without risking the tree's life, so just monitor the tree for now for new or worsening symptoms. Leaves can't heal from damage or return to all-green after discoloring, so even if the issue resolves itself, the foliage currently symptomatic will remain so, or continue to fall off. If the foliage that currently looks healthy doesn't develop symptoms, then the situation may have stabilized.
Miri
Is this a Kousa (Cornus kousa) or a native (Cornus florida) dogwood, or a hybrid (Cornus florida x kousa)? The foliage looks like that of a Kousa dogwood, but it's hard to tell. We ask because there are some attribute and vulnerability differences between them. Our native dogwood tends to get stressed and prone to sunscald/scorch in hot weather when growing in locations that are exposed to lots of summer sun. Kousa dogwoods tend to be a bit more resilient when it comes to heat and drought stress. The degree of resistance to powdery mildew varies among the native dogwood cultivars, with wild types generally being most susceptible. Kousa dogwoods tend to be fairly resistant. Stressed or injured dogwoods (such as those with lawn mower or string trimmer wounds on the lower trunk) can be targets for Dogwood Borer, a moth whose larva tunnels into the wood, and Kousa dogwoods have more resistance to that insect than the native dogwood. Hybrid dogwoods fall in-between their two parents in regards to all of those factors.
As Kousa dogwood matures, the bark on the trunk naturally flakes off and sheds. However, it's unusual to see that on a tree this young, so it may be a symptom of a more serious problem. Bark can detach when the wood below it dies and dries out, though in that case we'd expect to see more drastic leaf symptoms than what's pictured.
You can check the tree's planting depth, and try to make sure it's not being watered too much. As you noted, we're getting plentiful rains in many areas, so under-watering is less likely. All three of these dogwoods don't handle over-watering or poor drainage well. Before root rot became advanced enough to wilt or defoliate the tree, early-stage damage could manifest as scorch, because soil that stays too wet can kill roots (and because the remaining roots aren't functioning fully, because some were lost or infected, then the canopy can't get all of the moisture it needs).
We can't see the trunk base clearly, but check to see if the tree was planted too deeply, which can exacerbate environmental stress and make roots more vulnerable to soil sogginess. The root flare should be just visible at the soil surface; this is the location where major roots connect to the trunk. Often, nursery-grown trees wind-up several inches too deep in their pots (or burlap) before they are installed, and if this is not corrected upon planting, it can affect long-term tree health. You can use the information on the linked pages to gently dig around the trunk base to look for the location of the flare.
To determine how damp or dry the soil is with regards to watering needs, feel the soil around six inches deep next to the roots. If it feels somewhat dry to the touch at that depth, watering may benefit the plant if the weather continues to be dry (or if heavy but brief downpours aren't soaking in enough). If the soil is damp at that depth, watering won't be needed.
If that's a spotlight we see in the photo: many night-flying insects are attracted to light, and while not all of them are plant pests, you might want to reconsider lighting the tree after dark in case it's contributing to tree stress or giving certain insects easy access to a host plant. Trees generally grow best without unnatural sources of light at night, which can impact both pest insect activity and the activity of predators that consume those pests and keep their numbers suppressed.
If the bark is separating due to sapwood damage in the trunk (or a related issue, like some root loss or borers tunneling in the wood), then there is no treatment. Sometimes, though, this can occur without risking the tree's life, so just monitor the tree for now for new or worsening symptoms. Leaves can't heal from damage or return to all-green after discoloring, so even if the issue resolves itself, the foliage currently symptomatic will remain so, or continue to fall off. If the foliage that currently looks healthy doesn't develop symptoms, then the situation may have stabilized.
Miri
Thanks Miri, I believe it is a hybrid Kousa. When I bought it from Sun Nirseries I recall them saying it was created at Clemson University or some school down south. I have it in the front of the house where it does not get morning sun and it gets some shade. I lost another one prior to this one so I’m worried it’s a bad location. I will check the trunk when I can.
Appreciate the response.
Doug
You're welcome.
Sometimes there's just a quirk about a particular spot in a yard where a plant won't grow well; perhaps it's buried stones or debris from the home's construction, or particularly bad soil compaction below the root ball...it can be hard to tell what was causing the problem, unfortunately.
Miri
Sometimes there's just a quirk about a particular spot in a yard where a plant won't grow well; perhaps it's buried stones or debris from the home's construction, or particularly bad soil compaction below the root ball...it can be hard to tell what was causing the problem, unfortunately.
Miri
