Cornus alternifolia

Native

Woods, wood edges, thickets.

May to June

White

8′ to 25′

This plant is deciduous, slow-growing, and short-lived. It is usually a shrub, sometimes a small tree. In Minnesota mature individuals are usually 8′ to 25′ tall, with a trunk up to 6″ in diameter, though large individuals may reach 30′ tall.

When in the form of a shrub, it rises on several sprawling stems that often fork near the ground.

When in the form of a tree, it rises on a single trunk. The crown is broad and flat-topped. Branches are horizontal and curl upwards at the ends. They are arranged in irregular whorls, forming separate, horizontal tiers, which gives the crown a layered appearance and the plant its common name.

The bark on young trees is dark green and smooth. On mature trees the bark is thin, dark gray to reddish brown, and smooth or dividing into shallow fissures.

The twigs are slender, smooth, shiny, greenish-yellow to dark reddish-brown, or dark purplish-red. The pith is white. The tips of the twigs turn upwards. Dead twigs turn yellowish-orange.

The terminal buds are about ¼″ long, narrowly egg-shaped, pointed, reddish-brown or purplish-brown, and loosely covered with 2 or 3 scales. Flower buds are rounded.

The leaves are alternate, oval to egg-shaped, 2½″ to 4½″ long, and 2″ to 3″ wide. They are on 1¼″ to 2″ long leaf stalks. They are usually clustered near the tips of the branches, making them appear whorled or almost opposite. On each side of the midrib there are 5 or 6 conspicuous veins that curve upward toward the tip of the leaf. They are rounded or short-tapered at the base and tapered at the tip to a long, sharp point. The upper surface is dark green and hairless or sparsely hairy with appressed hairs. The lower surface is paler and hairy. The leaves turn yellow to red to purple in autumn.

The inflorescence is a large, open, branched cluster at the ends of branches. The clusters are 2″ to 4″ across and flat-topped or round-topped, usually hemispherical.

The flowers are small and white or cream colored. There are 4 minute sepals, 4 small petals, 4 stamens with long filaments, and a well-developed style. They open after the leaves.

The fruits are berry-like, 5 ⁄16″ to ⅜″ in diameter, and borne on a red stalk. It is green initially, turning to red, finally to bluish-black. It ripens in mid-summer.

This plant often grows as a tree and has alternate leaves, distinguishing it from other dogwoods.