FNPS Plant Database

Cornus alternifolia

alternate-leaved dogwood, pagoda dogwood
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

alternate-leaved dogwood, pagoda dogwood

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Cornus alternifolia

Family:

Cornaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

10-15 (30) ft tall by 10-15 wide.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

blue, black

Phenology:

Deciduous

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Fall Color, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Small specimen tree. Can also work as an understory tree.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed or softwood cuttings.

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for cecropia silkmoth ( Hyalophora cecropia ) and spring azure butterfly ( Celastrina ladon ). 





Attracts long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. 

Birds and small mammals consume the fruit.

Native Habitats:

Slope forest, upland hardwood forest. Bluffs, creek forests.

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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