June Snow giant dogwood gets its name from the abundance of small white flowers produced in June, which are followed by a similar abundance of blue-black fruit, much desired by birds. It has a distinctive horizontal branching growth habit that is similar to the native pagoda dogwood. This cultivar's parent, however, is native to China.

Members of the genus Cornus, commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the home garden for their multi-season interest -- be it flowers, fruit, foliage, and/or bark -- and their range of forms from small trees to suckering shrubs. The dominant display, however, varies among the species.

Dogwoods are native to cooler temperate areas of North America and Asia. The genus includes 45-60 species, divided into subgenera about which taxonomists disagree. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes almost 100 varieties of dogwood from 20 species (7 of which are native) and over 2,400 plants.