(Cornus racemosa)
Gray Dogwood

Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

Flowers of Gray Dogwood — Violmsyan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alternative Names

Northern Swamp Dogwood

Description of Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), a member of the Cornaceae (Dogwood Family), is a deciduous shrub that grows from 10′ to 15′ tall and blooms in the spring and early summer (May to June).  This plant grows in places with full sun or part shade in well-drained soil.

Hosted Species

Spring Azure Butterfly (Celastrinia ladon)

Spring Azure Butterfly on Leaf — ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)

Cecropia Moth on Branch — Marvin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nectar Species

Birds enjoy the fruits in the fall.

Habitat

This dogwood grows in places with full sun to part-shade having well-drained soil.

Range of Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) in the United States and Canada

Range of gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) in the United States and Canada.

Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) is native to the midwestern and eastern United States and 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, racemosa, is the Latin for racemes, in reference to the flowers.