Cornus alternifolia
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Alternate-leaved Dogwood, Pagoda Dogwood
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: | Fall color, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Small specimen tree. Can also work as an understory tree. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed or softwood cuttings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Part Shade, Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Acidic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Birds and small mammals consume the fruit. | |
| Insects: | Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon). Attracts long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. | |
| Native Habitats: | Slope forest, upland hardwood forest. Bluffs, creek forests. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures