Pagoda Dogwood - Cornus alternifolia

Phonetic: KOR-nus al-ter-nih-FOH-lee-ah

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1 Gallon Pot-15-18'' 

Pagoda dogwood, is a large shrub or small tree native to the woodlands and forest edges of eastern North America. It can handle a range of sun conditions, tolerating full sun to partially shaded environments.  It can also handle a range of soil conditions from partially dry to moist. Its layered, horizontal branching pattern gives it a distinctive tiered appearance, making it both ecologically valuable as well as ascetically appealing.

Pagoda dogwood blooms typically between May and June. During this period, it produces clusters of small, white flowers that are highly attractive to a variety of pollinators, including native bees, flies, and butterflies. By midsummer, these flowers develop into small, round berries that transition from green to deep blue-black as they ripen, usually by late summer or early fall. The fruits are held on by red stems and provide an important seasonal food source for birds and other wildlife.

Pagoda dogwood plays a vital role in supporting biodiversity. It is a host plant for the Spring Azure Butterfly and Its nectar-rich flowers sustain numerous pollinating insects, while its fruits are eagerly consumed by songbirds. The plant’s branching structure offers excellent nesting habitats for birds, Through these ecological relationships, pagoda dogwood enhances the health of forest understories, making it an essential species for pollinator and wildlife conservation alike.

• Hardiness Zone: 3-7
• Native Region: BONAP Map
• BONAP Map Key Color Guide: Map Color Key
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, 
• Flower Color: White 
• Bloom Time: May, June
• Soil Type: Medium Dry, Medium, Moist
• Mature Plant Size: 15-25'H, 20-32'W
• Plant Spacing: 10-20'
• Host Plant: Spring Azure Butterfly
• Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Birds
• Advantages: Poor Soil Tolerant
• Landscape Uses: 
• Companion Plants: Christmas Fern, Pennsylvania Sedge, Wild Ginger, Wild Geranium