(Cornus nuttallii)
Pacific Flowering Dogwood

Pacific Flowering Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

Flowers of Pacific Flowering Dogwood — Ellyne Geurts, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pacific Flowering Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), a member of the Cornaceae (Dogwood Family), is a deciduous tree that grows from 15′ to 40′ tall and blooms in the spring and early summer (April to June).  This plant grows in places with full sun or part shade in well-drained soil.  This is one of the tallest dogwoods in North America.

Alternative Names

Mountain Dogwood

Hosted Species

Pacific Flowering Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is a host plant for the Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia).  Birds enjoy the fruits in the fall.

Range in the United States and Canada

Range map of Pacific flowering dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) in the United States and Canada.

Pacific Flowering Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is native to the western United States and the Province of British Columbia in Canada.

Interesting Facts

The genus name, Cornus, comes from the Latin word, “Cornu,” which means horn and is in reference to the tough wood of the members of the genus (Missouri Botanical Garden).  The species name, nuttallii, is the Latinized name for the botanist, Thomas Nuttall.