Cornus drummondii (Roughleaf Dogwood)

Cornus drummondii (Roughleaf Dogwood) is a clump-forming shrub or small deciduous tree with elliptic to oval leaves, 5 in. long (12 cm), slightly rough to the touch on the upper surface and velvety beneath. In mid-spring to early summer, a profusion of flat-topped clusters, 2.5 in. wide (6 cm), packed with creamy-yellow flowers appear at the ends of the branches. They provide nectar for many butterfly species. The blossoms give way to fleshy, rounded, white berries in late summer. Quite ornamental, the fruits attract songbirds like no other plant. The foliage turns attractive shades of purple and scarlet in the fall. The bark is gray-brown, thin, and scaly with short plates or long, flat strips. Native to eastern North America, Roughleaf Dogwood spreads from root sprouts to form large colonies in the wild. Roughleaf Dogwood is regarded as an excellent species for use in multi-row field or farmstead windbreaks, wildlife food and cover plantings, landscape and beautification, and dense screen or border planting in recreational development areas. It makes a nice shrub for massing, particularly in problematic wet areas, and it works well in bog or rain gardens.

• Grows up to 6-15 ft. tall and wide (180-430 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade, in average, moist to wet, acidic to neutral soils. Tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor ones.
• Great choice for bog gardens, along ponds and streams, in naturalized areas, or as an informal screen or hedge.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for leaf spots, twigs and leaf blights, and canker. Deer resistant.
• Propagate by seed, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, hardwood cuttings in winter. Sow seeds immediately after collection or scarify and stratify and sow the following spring.
• Native to eastern North America.