PAGODA DOGWOOD
Cornus alternifolia

Height: 12-15'
Width: 10-12'
Hardiness Zone: 3
Exposure: sun or light shade
Origin: Eastern United States from Minnesota east and south to Georgia and Alabama

Description:

Attractive single or multi-trunked small tree. Noted for its layered horizontal branching structure. The small white flowers are borne in 34” flat clusters in late spring. The small, purplish-black fruit mature in July and are readily eaten by birds. Fall color is an attractive reddish-purple.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Prefers rich, moist soil but tolerant of fairly diverse soils. Does best in light shade but grows well in full sun. Does not do well in hot, dry sites. Requires some pruning to remove suckers to maintain the plant as a single or several trunk tree form.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Often not long lived especially in stressful sites. Develops stem cankers that kill individual canes to the ground. Thus it’s best to develop multi-trunked specimens so that the diseased trunks can be removed and still retain the plant. Some leaf spot diseases can occur but usually not serious.

Cultivars:

‘Argentea’ – has variegated leaves with white edges. Leaves smaller than the species.

 

 

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

 

 

The Brenton Arboretum
Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brenton Arboretum
Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org