The Dogwood tree, celebrated for its layered spring blooms and brilliant autumn foliage, is a popular ornamental choice for many landscapes. Determining the exact cost of a Dogwood is not simple, as the final price is highly variable and depends on several specific factors. The price is influenced by the tree’s physical form at purchase, its species or specialized cultivar, and whether you choose to install it yourself or hire a professional. Understanding these variables helps set a realistic budget for adding this flowering tree to your property.
Price Factors Based on Tree Form and Size
The initial cost of a Dogwood tree is directly linked to its maturity and packaging, which dictates the immediate visual impact and planting effort. The least expensive option is a bare root seedling, a dormant plant shipped without soil around its roots, making it lightweight and easy to transport. These are typically small, young trees, often measuring 2 to 3 feet in height. Their low cost, usually ranging from $10 to $30, is balanced by a higher risk of transplant shock and a slower initial growth rate.
The standard retail offering is a container-grown Dogwood, which is actively growing in potting soil and is less susceptible to transplant issues. These are sold in nursery pots measured in gallons, with a 3-gallon container being a common entry point for a tree with an established root system. Container-grown Dogwoods usually cost $40 to $100 for sizes between 1 and 5 gallons. This option is favored by the average homeowner due to the convenience of planting and the higher survival rate.
For those seeking immediate landscape impact, the most substantial and expensive option is the ball and burlap (B&B) specimen. These are field-grown, mature trees dug up with a large, intact root ball wrapped in burlap fabric and often a wire basket. A large B&B Dogwood, which may have a trunk caliper of 1 to 2 inches and stand several feet tall, can cost $150 to over $400, depending on the size and species. The weight and size of these specimens often necessitate specialized equipment and professional handling for successful installation.
Cost Variation by Species and Cultivar
Beyond the tree’s size and packaging, the specific type of Dogwood selected influences its market price. The native Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), known for its classic, showy white spring bracts, often serves as the baseline price point. Since this species is widely available, the price remains competitive for standard sizes.
The Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa), native to East Asia, is frequently priced slightly higher than its native counterpart. This premium is often due to its later bloom time and established resistance to dogwood anthracnose, a fungal disease. The Kousa Dogwood is also valued for its hardiness and distinctive, strawberry-like summer fruit.
Hybrid and specialized cultivars consistently command the highest prices due to their unique or improved characteristics. Cultivars like Cornus florida ‘Cherokee Brave,’ which produces pinkish-red blooms, or patented hybrids like the Cornus kousa x florida crosses, are examples of this premium pricing. These hybrids combine the disease resistance of Kousa with the flower size of the Flowering Dogwood. These rare or improved varieties may be 20% to 50% more expensive than the standard species, particularly if they are newly introduced or difficult to propagate. Prices can also fluctuate based on local supply, with Dogwoods sold outside their native range sometimes incurring higher costs due to transportation.
Total Budget: Purchase vs. Professional Installation
The purchase price of the Dogwood tree is often only one part of the total project budget, as installation costs significantly increase the final expense. A do-it-yourself (DIY) approach minimizes labor costs, requiring only a small investment in basic tools, soil amendments, or mulch. This is a practical and cost-effective method for planting smaller container-grown or bare root trees.
Hiring a professional landscaper or arborist introduces labor fees that can dramatically alter the budget. Professional installation rates vary, often ranging from $50 to $150 per hour, or they may be quoted as a flat fee based on the tree’s size. For medium to large trees, installation labor alone can cost between $100 and $300.
Installation of B&B Specimens
When planting larger B&B specimens, the total cost for professional installation can equal or exceed the tree’s purchase price, sometimes adding 50% to 100% to the initial tree cost. This is because large trees require specialized equipment, such as tree spades or skid steers, and multiple crew members for safe handling. Additional budget considerations include delivery fees for large, heavy trees, which nurseries often charge based on distance.