Droopy Chinese Dogwood

[JRobyn]

Hi folks,

We were given what I understand to be a "Chinese Dogwood". It seems to be thriving, but is quite droopy per the attached. Do these need to be supported or pruned when young?

 

[mddorange]

The problem appears to be that someone let it become a bush instead of a tree. You would have to prune it back to force it to one branch.

 

[Fossil Farm]

What do you know about where it came from? It may have been shaded by a larger tree or building and grew out towards the sunlight.
Also, how long have you had it? Kousa (Chinese) dogwood are mostly resistant to verticillium wilt, but White Flowing dogwood will get
wilt disease. Both like drier soils, not wet feet also.

Edit- Also, when it flowers, you will be able to tell if it is a Kousa or another type of dogwood by the flower pattern. Gray and Silky dogwoods are shrubs and not tree forms.

 

[JRobyn]

We got it as a single "twig", about 14" tall. It is in a fairly well-drained spot in a corner of the foundation wall.