Cornus racemosa (Gray Dogwood)

A tough shrub. Tolerates light shade but does best in full sun. Grows in wet or dry soils and even sand. Thrives on compacted construction sites. The dogwood has white flowers in May that turn to white fruit on red panicles, which birds relish, in the fall. Locally-collected seed produces plants with early fall color of maroon-red which lasts for 2 weeks. It is a great plant to be massed in shrub borders.

Associates: Corylus americana (American Filbert (Hazelnut)), Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium), Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple), Quercus alba (White Oak), Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak), Quercus rubra (Red Oak), Smilacina racemosa (False Solomon’s Seal), Tilia americana (American Linden), Viburnum lentago (Nannyberry Viburnum), Viburnum rafinesquianum (Downy Arrowwood)

Category:

Additional information

Attracts

Birds, Butterflies

Bloom Period

May

Colors

Whites and Off-Whites

Fall Colors

Maroon, Red

Plant Height

6-9 feet

Shrub Size

6-9' x 3-6'

Spread

3-6 feet

Sun

Full, Partial

Tolerance

Deer

Water

Dry, Medium, Wet