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Cornus alternifolia

Pagoda Dogwood

Plant Type:

TREES

Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda Dogwood offers horizontal tiers of branches which creates a form that inspires its common moniker. Creamy yellow-white flowers are 2.5 inch cymes occurring in May-June, fragrant. Fruits are a black-blue with a glaucous blush. Dark green leaves develop a muted but attractive red-purple in the late season. Red-brown-purple stems are handsome all through the many months when trees are denuded, especially noteworthy because of the handsome branching character of this worthy native. Part sun in organic, moist and acid draining soil. Our plants are cutting grown, not grafted. Small established tree pot grown from cutting.


Please scroll down to Genus Overview for more information.


Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Colors:

Cream

Zone:

3 to 7
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Characteristics and Attributes for Cornus alternifolia

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn

Interesting Bark

  • Colored

Autumn Interest

  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
  • Autumn Leaf Color

Nature Attraction

  • Songbirds

Light

  • Sun Tolerant
  • Morning Sun / Afternoon Shade
  • Dappled Shade
  • Shade Tolerant

Attributes

  • Shrub Border
  • Woodland
  • Hedgerow
  • Natural Garden
  • Specimen

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Organic
  • Moist
  • Acid
  • Fertile

Origins

  • Eastern North America

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Cornus

Cornus. The Dogwoods come in many sizes – low growing shrubs to rounded trees. They are indispensable in a garden with almost all species and cultivars sporting four seasons of interest. Many exhibit richly-colored winter wood, attractive flowers and pretty berries in blue or white. Most offer terrific fall foliage color. The cultivars that offer gorgeous winter bark are especially well-used as background to lower growing evergeens or as foreground shrubs set before conifers, their stem colors glowing in winter against a backdrop of green, black-green, yellow or blue. All that produce flowers and fruit are very fine choices for the wildlife enthusiast. The trees provide nesting spots. When shrubs are grouped together these also provide nesting opportunities for some species of sparrows and even catbirds among others. The trees and shrubs provide nectar for bees and many other pollinators when in flower. Birds relish the late season fruits. All prefer fertile soils that retain some moisture between rain events. All of our offerings are cutting grown.