Most dogwoods are grown for the color of the branches and twigs, the fall foliage or for the attractive fruit rather than for the flowers. The small, non-descript flowers are produced in terminal clusters on the previous year's growth and are generally yellowish, greenish or white. Because flowers are produced in huge quantities, however, they are usually conspicuous on the plant.

The "flowers" of species such as the flowering dogwood (C. florida) and the Japanese dogwood (C. kousa) are actually large, white leaf bracts that attract insects for flower pollination.