Scientific Name:
Cornus racemosa
Pronunciation:
KORE-nus ray-sem-OH-zuh
Common Name:
grey dogwood
Family Name:
Cornaceae
Plant Type:
Shrub - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Shrub multi-stemmed; stems red to orange-brown/turn to light gray; leaves opposite, elliptic to lance-shaped with acuminate tip, dull gray-green fall colour reddish-purple; flowers creamy-white, tiny, early June; berries small, white. Winter ID: buds opposite, appressed, valvate, pointed.
Habit:
Spreading, Twiggy, Upright
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
2 - 3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Canada - eastern, U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Rocky or gravelly or dry, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Fall interest, Filler, Hedge row, Mixed shrub border, Screening, Winter interest, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown or on campus include C. 'Mahzam' (Mahoning dogwood).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Heavily veined
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Fall:
Purple, Red, Dark-red
Shapes:
Elliptic, Lanceolate, Ovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Cuneate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Floriferous, Corymb-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Cruciform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, White
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Drupe
Fruit Colour:
White
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark Morphology:
Showy, Smooth, Multi-stem trunk
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Red, Tan
Leaf Bud Type:
Valvate
Leaf Scar Shape:
V-shaped
Organ Modifications:
Runners (or stolons)
Propagation:
Cuttings, Hardwood cuttings
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- not used (on campus)
Location(s):
- (NRY) NuRserY
- (PDW) PonD West
- (WLG) WoodLand Garden