Cornus alternifolia (Pagoda Dogwood)
Botanical Information
| Family | Cornaceae |
| Genus | Cornus |
| Species | alternifolia |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (deciduous), Shrub (deciduous) |
| Origin | New Brunswick to Minnesota south to Georgia and Alabama. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 3 - 7 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 1a - 7a |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H5 - H7 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -40 - (-12) |
| Temperature (°F) | -40 - 10 |
| Height | 4 - 7 m |
| Spread | 6 - 9 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | May |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Rounded, upright, horizontal and branching. |
| Landscape | Specimen planting, small groupings and border planting. |
| Propagation | Seed. |
| Cultivation | Full sun and partial-shade. Acidic, organically rich, medium moisture and well-drained soil. |
| Pests | Susceptible to leaf spot, twig and leaf blights, root rot and canker. Scale, leaf miners and borers can be a problem. Deer tolerant. |
| Notable Specimens | The A.M. Cuddy Gardens, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Woodlands. |
| Leaf Description | Elliptic-ovate, alternate leaves that are crowded near the end of twigs, 7 - 12 cm long, whorl-like and simple. |
| Flower Description | Small, fragrant flowers bloom in flattened cymes, each 6 cm in diameter. |
| Fruit Description | Flowers give way to drupes that appear on stalks. Fruit matures in late summer. |
| Colour Description | The flowers are yellowish-white. The stalks are red. The fruit is blue. The leaves are reddish-purple and are often tinted with a yellowish-green in autumn. |
| Texture Description | Medium. |
Photographs
A picture perfect specimen at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea' at Wakehurst Gardens, England.
Cornus alternifolia 'W. Stackman'