Scientific Name, Family: Cornus Alternifolia, Cornaceae
Common Names: Pagoda Dogwood, Alternate Leaf Dogwood
Native or invasive: Native – The native distribution of the plant is mainly in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States stretching north into southern Canada.
Deciduous or Evergreen: Deciduous
Image of the tree you are viewing, GPS Coordinates: Latitude 45.00248, Longitude 92.90376
Condition and age guess of the tree you are viewing: e.g.,Healthy, 50 years
Branch Structure: Alternate leaf dogwood is also known as pagoda dogwood for its tiered horizontal branching, the trademark characteristic of this species. It can be a shrub or small tree with green, red, or purple branches with a distinctive flat-topped crown accompanied by a spreading horizontal branch architecture. The older parts of the plant, such as the trunk, are mostly smooth and wine-purple to brown with vertical tan lenticels.
Typical height and width at maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 20-30 ft wide
Typical longevity: 30 years
Soil, water, sunlight preferences: Pagoda dogwood prefers slightly acidic, well-drained soil and part shade that is protected from the wind. When planted in full sun, place a layer of mulch around the base to moderate soil temperature and conserve moisture. It does tolerate dry sites. Pagoda dogwood can be found growing in both moist and dry forests, forest margins, stream banks, and fields
Growth habit of roots:
Images of trunk bark at early stage and mature stage:
Images of mature tree: winter and summer
Image of leaf or leaves on a 12 x 12 inch grid: The leaves are simple in an alternate arrangement and oval in shape. They are green in the summer and turn reddish-purple in the fall.
Image of leaf or leaves in fall colors: color
Flower Details: The flowers bloom from May to June which are fragrant and light yellow to cream-colored. The buds of the plant, alternately arranged, are purple and slightly fuzzy/hairy.
Typical Pollination Mechanism:
Images of flowers (one or two images)
Images of fruit: After flowering, the dogwood will produce pea-sized fruits in clusters that are either green or bluish-black depending on the time of year.
Value for wildlife: The flowers are a nectar source for the Spring Azure butterfly which also utilizes the plant as a host site for its larva laying eggs on the flower buds. The fruit is bitter and enjoyed by a variety of native wildlife such as birds, bears, squirrels, pheasants, wild turkey, and grouse.
Utility for Humans: Pagoda dogwood can be planted as an ornamental specimen or in small groupings on residential property around homes, near patios, or in lawns. Also effective in shrub borders, woodland gardens, bird gardens, or naturalized areas.
Traditional uses in Native American Tree Medicine (historical):
Links to related interesting information: audio file link
Homeowner’s Corner
Pagoda dogwood is susceptible to golden stem canker. The infected branches turn yellow to orange and eventually die.