Taxon

Cornus alternifolia

 
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Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda Dogwood, alternate-leaf dogwood
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Common name: Pagoda Dogwood, alternate-leaf dogwood
Family: Cornaceae
Distribution: eastern North America
Habitat: moist and dry forests, forest margins, stream banks and fields
IUCN Red list: Least concern
Hardiness: Zone 4b -25 to -20 F
Life form: Deciduous tree
Usage: Ornamental flowering tree
Comments: Pagoda dogwood is a small deciduous tree that typically grows 15-25’ tall with distinctive tiered/layered horizontal branching which is upward-turned at the tips. Small, fragrant, yellowish-white flowers bloom in flattened cymes each to 2 1/2" across in late spring. Flowers give way to bluish-black fruits on red stalks. Fruits mature in late summer. Elliptic-ovate, medium green leaves to 3-5” long turn reddish-purple often tinted yellow or green in fall. Although the leaves of most species of dogwood are opposite, those of pagoda dogwood are alternate, hence the specific epithet and often used common name of alternate-leaf dogwood.
Best grown in acidic, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Provide consistent moisture and mulch root zone.
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