Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Habitat.—Hillsides, open woods and copses, borders of streams and swamps.
Hardiness.— USDA 4-7
Habit.—A shrub or small tree, 6-20 feet high, trunk diameter 3-6 inches; head usually widest near the top, flat; branches nearly horizontal with lateral spray, the lively green, dense foliage lying in broad planes.
Bark.—Trunk and larger branches greenish, warty, streaked with gray; season’s shoots bright yellowish-green or purplish, oblong-dotted.
Winter Buds and Leaves.—Buds small, acute. Leaves simple, alternate or sometimes opposite, clustered at the ends of the branchlets, 2-4 inches long, dark green on the upper side, paler beneath, ovate to oval, almost entire; apex long-pointed; base acutish or rounded; veins indented above, ribs curving upward and parallel; petiole long, slender, and grooved.
Flower.—Summer. From shoots of the season, in irregular open cymes; calyx coherent with ovary,corolla white or pale yellow, with the 4 oblong petals at length.
Fruit.—October. Globular, blue or blue black, on slender, reddish stems.
Horticultural Value.—Adapting itself to a great variety of situations, but preferring a soil that is constantly moist. Nursery or good collected plants are easily transplanted.
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I planted one of these two springs ago, and it is without a doubt one of the prettiest trees ever. It is gorgeous at any time of the year.