Alphabetical Plant Listing

Cornus racemosa (Gray Dogwood)

Gray Dogwood, Cornus foemina ssp. racemosa, Cornus paniculata


Tough and adaptable, Cornus racemosa (Gray Dogwood) is a thicket-forming, deciduous shrub with excellent blue-green foliage of elliptic to lance-shaped leaves, up to 4 in. long (10 cm). In late spring to early summer, small creamy-white flowers appear in flattened clusters and provide a great floral show. They are borne atop conspicuously red stems and attract bees and butterflies. They are followed by white berries, which persist into fall unless devoured by birds and other wildlife. Their bright red fruit stalks persist after the berries are gone, and are quite ornamental. The foliage turns deep reddish purple in the fall. Resistant to most diseases and insects, Gray Dogwood can be used in erosion control, as a filler in the shrub border, or left alone to spread in naturalized areas.

  • Grows up to 10-15 ft. tall and wide (300-450 cm). Will spread to form large colonies if suckers are not removed.
  • Performs best in full sun or part shade in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Tolerant of heavy shade. Gray Dogwood is tolerant of dry soils and wet soils. 
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Deer resistant.
  • A great choice for shrub borders, rain gardens, along streams or ponds, and native plant gardens. Could be used as a screen or on steep slopes.
  • Sow seeds immediately after collection or scarify and stratify and sow the following spring. This plant will root from softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer, and hardwood cuttings in winter.
  • Native to Eastern North America.
  • Find where this species is invasive in the United States.

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Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 8
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Cornus - Dogwoods
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 10' – 15' (3m – 4.5m)
Spread 10' – 15' (3m – 4.5m)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Dry Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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By Danita Delimont, Shutterstock, Kevin Kenny, Cranbrook Science, Flickr

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 8
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Cornus - Dogwoods
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 10' – 15' (3m – 4.5m)
Spread 10' – 15' (3m – 4.5m)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Dry Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks and Slopes, Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Cornus - Dogwoods

Guides with Cornus - Dogwoods

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