Pagoda Dogwood, Alternate-leaved Dogwood, Cornus alternifolia L.f., Native Minnesota Tree, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

Cornus alternifolia L. f.

Late Spring to Early Summer

(Alternate-leaf Dogwood) A native deciduous shrub with alternate leaves that are however, mostly clustered at the ends of branches. It usually forms a small tree up to 30' in height, with the smooth greenish color branches growing almost horizontal, which gives it the common name of Pagoda Dogwood as these horizontal branches are tiered into decreasing widths near the top resembling a pagoda. It is the only native dogwood that will form a tree shape. Twigs are reddish in color with terminal buds not much wider than the twig. Buds are reddish also with 2 to 3 scales visible. The flower buds break from the bud at the same time as the leaf as shown below. Bark on smaller stems is smooth and darker green. Large older stems will turn brownish with fissures. Leaves are broadly oval, entire (toothless) have a rounded base with a tapering tip, glossy green on top, up to 4 inches long. Very fine hair on the leaf petiole. Leaf veins are prominent and curve up toward the leaf tip (arcuate). The flowers are white, 4 part, in flat-topped branched clusters (cymes), each cluster from 2 to 4" wide. The fruit is an globular drupe containing an ovoid shape stone. Fruit turns dark blue in late summer attached to a stalk that turns reddish.

Comparisons: There are four Dogwoods in the Garden. All have similar looking flowers. An identification key with comparison link is presented below these photos. Names: The genus, Cornus, is from the Latin cormu which refers to a 'horn'. Most references believe that name was applied as a reference to the density of the wood of this genus, which also includes the boxwoods. Dogwood is very dense and was once used for loom shuttles. The species name, alternifolia, refers to the alternate leaves. Comparisons: There are four Dogwoods in the Garden. All have similar looking flowers. An identification key is presented below the photos.

Dogwood Species	C. racemosa	C. obliqua	C. alternifolia	C. sericea
Common Name	Gray Dogwood	Pale Dogwood	Pagoda Dogwood	Red Osier Dogwood
Alternate Name	Panicled Dogwood	Silky Dogwood	Alternate-leaf Dogwood
Height & Size	to 6' forming a thicket	3 to10'shrub	to 30' small tree	to 9' in thickets
Flowers	All four dogwoods have small 4-part white flowers that are borne in branching clusters.
Flower cluster	nearly as high as wide and NOT flat topped	Flat-topped, flower stalks silky (hairy)	Flat-topped, mostly at the ends of branches	Flat-topped
Bloom period (typical - varies with season)	mid- to late June	late May to June	Late May to mid-June	Early May onwards.
Leaves	Opposite, entire, stalked, oval to lance shape, pale under, veins curve to tip.	Opposite, entire, stalked, ovate to oval shape, taper at both ends, pale under	Alternate, entire, stalked, broadly oval, rounded base, taper at tip. Glossy green above, form clusters at end of branches	Opposite, entire, stalked, oval to lance shaped, 5 to 7 pairs of veins, whitish under.
Branches	Gray, smooth	Purplish	Greenish, smooth. Twigs red.	Younger branches reddish in fall, winter and spring
Fruit	White with conspicuous red stalks	dark blue	dark blue	white to lead
Native Status	Native	Native	Native	Native

Other names and notes	Trees and Shrubs of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Flowering Season
	Pagoda Dogwood	Cornus alternifolia L. f.	Dogwood (Cornaceae)	Woodland	Late Spring to Early Summer
	(Alternate-leaf Dogwood) A native deciduous shrub with alternate leaves that are however, mostly clustered at the ends of branches. It usually forms a small tree up to 30' in height, with the smooth greenish color branches growing almost horizontal, which gives it the common name of Pagoda Dogwood as these horizontal branches are tiered into decreasing widths near the top resembling a pagoda. It is the only native dogwood that will form a tree shape. Twigs are reddish in color with terminal buds not much wider than the twig. Buds are reddish also with 2 to 3 scales visible. The flower buds break from the bud at the same time as the leaf as shown below. Bark on smaller stems is smooth and darker green. Large older stems will turn brownish with fissures. Leaves are broadly oval, entire (toothless) have a rounded base with a tapering tip, glossy green on top, up to 4 inches long. Very fine hair on the leaf petiole. Leaf veins are prominent and curve up toward the leaf tip (arcuate). The flowers are white, 4 part, in flat-topped branched clusters (cymes), each cluster from 2 to 4" wide. The fruit is an globular drupe containing an ovoid shape stone. Fruit turns dark blue in late summer attached to a stalk that turns reddish. Comparisons: There are four Dogwoods in the Garden. All have similar looking flowers. An identification key with comparison link is presented below these photos. Names: The genus, Cornus, is from the Latin cormu which refers to a 'horn'. Most references believe that name was applied as a reference to the density of the wood of this genus, which also includes the boxwoods. Dogwood is very dense and was once used for loom shuttles. The species name, alternifolia, refers to the alternate leaves. Comparisons: There are four Dogwoods in the Garden. All have similar looking flowers. An identification key is presented below the photos.