Pagoda Dogwood
Cornus alternifolia
The Pagoda Dogwood is something of a paradox. Sounding straight from the Far East, this spectacular small tree is actually an eastern US native found in nearly every county in Pennsylvania and is more corn fields and rock walls than rice fields and koi ponds. So how did it get such an evocative name? It turns out that the distinctly horizontal branches, which are attached to the trunk in neatly tiered layers, are reminiscent of the ancient towers of South Asia. In the landscape, pagoda dogwood is one of the few legitimate four-season plants. Creamy white clusters of flowers appear in late spring, followed by inky-blue berries in summer. The leaves turn a scrumptious reddish maroon in autumn, while winter serves up a striking silhouette of spreading branches.
Conditions: Full sun to part shade; medium, well-drained soil
Size: 15′ – 25′ tall, 20′ spread
Zone: 3 – 7
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract small pollinators, including halictid bees and pollinating beetles; berries eaten in winter by birds and mammals; larval host for many butterfly and moth species, including the Spring Azure Butterfly
