Maryland Native Shrubs for Birds

Cornus alternifolia – Pagoda Dogwood

Cornus alternifolia, also called pagoda dogwood, is a small deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows 15-25’ tall with distinctive tiered/layered horizontal branching which is upward-turned at the tips. It is native to both moist and dry forests, forest margins, stream banks and fields. Small, fragrant, yellowish-white flowers bloom in flattened cymes (each to 2 1/2″ across) in late spring (May-June).

Flowers give way to bluish-black fruits (drupes) 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.

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