Description
Small, deciduous, spring-flowering native tree
Description: Yellowish white flowers in 2-3 inch cymes; dark green, prominently veined leaves and dark blue fruits
Habit: Grows up to 25 feet high and 30 feet wide; horizontal, layered branches suggest the tiered roof of a Japanese pagoda
Culture: Tolerates any exposure, from full sun to full shade; requires cool roots and moist, acidic, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3
Origin: North America
Attributes: Deer resistant, attractive bark, attracts birds
This North American species, first discovered in 1760, grows from eastern Canada to Minnesota through the south to Georgia and Alabama. John Bartram, the early Philadelphia naturalist and nurseryman, listed it as Cornus sylvestris in his 1783 broadside. Alternate-leaf Dogwood is a desirable plant both during the growing season and in winter when the trees glossy, purple-brown bark adds interest to the landscape. The fruits are attractive to birds but the foliage is not attractive to deer.
