Cornus foemina (Swamp Dogwood)

Cornus foemina (Swamp Dogwood) is a deciduous flowering shrub or small tree of rounded habit, noted for its showy flower clusters, dark fruits, and attractive red twigs. Blooming for 2-3 weeks in mid-spring to early summer, small, bright white flowers borne in flat-topped clusters appear at the tips of the branches. Unpleasantly fragrant, they attract long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies. The blossoms give way to attractive clusters of bright blue berries in summer and fall, greedily devoured by birds and small mammals. The leaves, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm), are opposite, mostly lance-shaped, and medium to dark green. The summer foliage may turn reddish-purple in fall. The bark of the trunk and larger branches is gray, while the smaller branches are brown and smooth. The young twigs are hairless and red, becoming dark reddish brown with age. Adaptable to sun or shade, Swamp Dogwood is a fine choice for moist woodlands, shrub borders, naturalized areas, and along streams and ponds. It can be found growing in the wild in swamps, streambanks, marshes, and upland locations.

• Grows up to 10-25 ft. tall (300-750 cm) and 10-15 ft. wide (300-450 cm).
• Performs best in full sun to part shade, in fertile, moist to wet, slightly acidic, well-drained soils. Prefers wet conditions but will adapt to moist sites. Tolerates close to full shade.
• This plant has no serious insects and diseases except occasional infestation by scale insects and leaf spot.
• Propagate by seeds.
• Native to eastern and southeastern North America.