Cornus racemosaIndiana Native
Gray Dogwood

Family:

Cornaceae (Dogwood Family) 40

Genus:

Cornus (Dogwood) 40

Plant Type:

Shrub/Tree 81

Growth Forms:

Suckering / Colonizing 34

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 230

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 836

Flower Notes:

White (Creamy white clusters of flowers (racemes) in late spring)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Gray-green summer foliage); Red-Violet (Inconsistent reddish-purple fall foliage)

Stem Notes:

tan to reddish brown but graying overtime, slender, essentially glabrous

Fruit Notes:

White;red (Small white berries;the bright red pedicels that hold the berries persist into early winter, even after fruit have dropped)

Ultimate Height:

10-15 feet

Ultimate Spread:

6-10 feet

Bloom Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 192

Soil Notes:

Tolerant of a wide variety of soil types and moisture conditions

Range:

eastern North America

Maintenance:

Low 264

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves (2-4" long by 1-2" wide) are opposite, simple, ovate, and acuminate with 3-4 pairs of veins that sweep toward, but never contact, the leaf margin.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Pollution Tolerant 217

Tolerant of Poor Site Conditions 187

Wet Soil Tolerant 109

Indiana Native 162

Additional Information

The Gray Dogwood is a tough, suckering, deciduous shrub that is native to Indiana and is noted for its small, white flower clusters, white fruits, and persisting red fruit pedicels. Tolerates poor soils (including wet soils), drought, full sun, full shade, and air pollution. Suckers can become a problem if not controlled.