Alternate leaf Dogwood Quick Growth Guide

Photo:

peganum from Small Dole, England, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternate leaf dogwood has, as one would expect, alternate leaves, which turn to maroon foliage in the fall. When it is not competing with nearby trees or buildings, its branches will tier or layer horizontally, giving the appearance of a layered tierred pagoda with upturned branches. It has a fibrous, spreading root system and prefers a cool root zone. This dogwood can reach a height of 15 to 25 feet. It grows in both moist and dry forests, as well as forest margins, stream banks, and fields.

In Hardiness zone 5, it fruit will typically mature around august first, at which time a feeding frenzy by Cow Birds might be obeserved.

Quick Growing Guide

Ritchie Feed and Seed Ad

Botanical Name: Cornus alternifolia

Also Called: Pagoda Dogwood

En français: Cornouiller à feuilles alterne

Colour:

Blooms:

Water: Low water requirement

Pollinators:

Hardiness Zones:

This alternate leaf dogwood should be pruned every few years as branches tend to grow into available space, perhaps distorting the trees natural shape (of looking like a layered pagoda)

Provides cover and nesting sites. Dry, bitter berries are winter food for birds and mammals. Larval food source for Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta).

Its natural habitat: Understory of deciduous forests, thickets, open woods, hillsides and ravine slopes, along streams.

Comments

Leave a Reply

More From Gardening Calendar

The Most Common Threats To Your Trees

Protect your backyard trees from damage with this guide to the most common threats – small insects & fauna, nutrient deficiencies, tree diseases, and invasive plant species. Get all the tips for keeping your trees healthy and happy!

Dog in the Garden

If your dog is making a path in the garden, work with it. I added some mulch to the path, and it actually looks like I planned it!

Pruning Hibiscus For Best Growth

Learn the benefits of pruning hibiscus for vibrant blooms and how to adjust your routine based on variety and season. Keep your plants healthy and blooming!