Common Name of Plant:
Scientific Name of Plant:
Average Height of Plant:
Blooming Time:
Red Dogwood
Cornus stolonifera
3 0 10 feet
Spring
Ask the Botanist
What are the leaves like? The oval, simple leaves are alternate on the branches. The 4inch leaves have smooth margins with veins that do not touch the edges. The upper surfaces
are bright green and the lower surfaces are pale and bluish.
What type of flowers bloom on this plant? What do the seedpods or seeds look like?
The small, white flowers are produced in flat-topped clusters.
What is unusual about the stem or trunk? The stems are dark red when young, gradually
fading to grey-green and becoming red again in fall and winter.
How is this plant important to animals? Has it also been used by people?
Red dogwood creates good cover for birds and wildlife. Native Americans prepared
“kinnikinnik” from the bark for smoking. The red bark is used for ornamentation at
Christmas.
What location does this plant prefer?
Red dogwood prefers wet, swampy conditions in both sun or shade. It tolerates extremely
cold temperatures.
Pictures
Whole Plant
Leaf
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Buds
Flowers
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Seeds
Stem
or Tree
Bark
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