Pagoda dogwood, Alternateleaf dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
Cornaceae


Landscape Uses:

Small specimen tree.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Small deciduous tree up to 25 feet tall. Oval leaves 2-6 inches long.
Height:
Up to 25 feet in height.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Eastern North America south to the Florida Panhandle in Gadsden, Liberty, Calhoun, and Walton counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website.
Habitats:
Bluff forests and creek swamps
Soils:
Moist to wet, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Moderate shade to full sun.
Flower Color:
Creamy white
Flower Characteristics:
Showy clusters.
Flowering Season:
Spring.
Fruit:
Tiny, bluish-black.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides food for birds.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.