Yes, the vast majority of common dogwood species lose their leaves in the winter. The most widely recognized dogwood, the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), is a deciduous ornamental tree that naturally sheds its foliage annually. Seeing a bare dogwood in colder months is a sign of a healthy tree preparing for winter conditions, not distress. This shedding process is a survival mechanism that allows the tree to conserve resources and protect itself from freezing temperatures.
The Seasonal Cycle of Deciduous Dogwoods
The loss of leaves is a deliberate biological process called dormancy, which allows the tree to survive cold and dry winter weather. As days shorten and temperatures drop in the fall, the dogwood begins to reabsorb valuable nutrients from its leaves. This reabsorption stops the production of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis, allowing other pigments to become visible.
The change in pigment creates the tree’s spectacular fall display, turning the foliage into vibrant shades of deep red, purple, and orange before they drop completely. Once nutrients are retrieved, the tree forms a layer of specialized cells at the base of the leaf stem, called the abscission layer. This layer seals the leaf connection, preventing water loss and the entry of pathogens.
Energy is stored in the tree’s roots and woody tissues, allowing it to enter a protective slumber for the winter. This dormant state significantly reduces the tree’s metabolic activity and its need for water, which is often difficult to access when the ground is frozen. Shedding the leaves also removes surface area that would otherwise lose excessive moisture to drying winter winds, a phenomenon known as desiccation.
Not All Dogwoods Are the Same
While the common flowering dogwood is deciduous, the Cornus genus is diverse and includes a few exceptions to the winter leaf-shedding rule. These varieties are typically found in warmer climates where the need for deep dormancy is less pronounced. One notable example is the Himalayan Dogwood, Cornus capitata, which is classified as an evergreen to semi-evergreen species.
Cornus capitata is native to parts of Asia and retains its leathery, dark green leaves throughout the winter, especially in mild climates. This evergreen dogwood may experience some leaf drop, and its foliage might take on purplish-red tones in the fall, but it does not become completely bare. Certain hybrid dogwoods, such as the Cornus ‘Norman Hadden’, exhibit a semi-evergreen habit. These hybrids keep some of their leaves unless the winter is particularly harsh or cold, offering a unique intermediate trait between the two main types.
How to Assess Tree Health During Dormancy
If you are concerned about your leafless dogwood during the winter, simple techniques can verify that it is still alive and merely dormant. The most direct method is the “scratch test,” which reveals the condition of the living tissue just beneath the bark surface. Use a fingernail or a small, sharp tool to lightly scrape a small patch of bark from a young twig or branch.
A healthy, dormant dogwood will show bright green, moist tissue directly under the thin outer layer of the bark. If the tissue is brown, dry, or brittle, that section of the branch is no longer alive, though the rest of the tree may still be fine. Also, look for plump, firm buds that formed in the fall, as these contain the miniature leaves and flowers for the following spring. Healthy buds are a reliable sign that the tree has successfully stored its energy and is ready to resume growth when warmer weather returns.