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roughleaf dogwood

Scientific Name: Cornus drummondii

Family: Cornaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Tree, Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: NY (rough-leaf dogwood)

       

Roughleaf Dogwood (Cornus drummondii)

The Roughleaf Dogwood, scientifically known as Cornus drummondii, is a versatile plant native to the Great Plains and Midwestern regions of the United States. It is valued for its adaptability and ecological role.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant produces hard, white fruit.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant produces hard, white fruit.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

  • Scientific Name: Cornus drummondii C.A. Mey.
  • Common Names: Roughleaf Dogwood, Rough-leaved Dogwood, Drummond's Dogwood
  • Family: Cornaceae
  • Order: Cornales
  • Synonyms: Cornus priceae Small, Cornus asperifolia var. drummondii

Distribution and Habitat

  • Primarily found in the Great Plains and Midwestern regions of the United States.
  • Common in the eastern half of some states.
  • Rare in North Carolina, restricted to shell middens and calcareous bottomlands in the southeastern corner of the state.
  • Thrives in moist areas, understories, at margins, and in fence rows.

Ecological Role

  • Can be an invading shrub in bluestem prairies.
  • High-fat berries are an important food source for migratory and wintering birds.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Deciduous shrub or small tree, typically growing to 4-15 feet, with a maximum height of 50 feet in some cases.
  • Can be trained into a small tree or left as a multi-stemmed shrub.
  • Forms clumps with shallow, spreading roots.
  • Young twigs are rough, often reddish-brown; mature branches are grayish-brown.
  • Leaves are opposite, simple, ovate to elliptical, with a rough texture.
  • Produces flat-topped clusters of creamy-yellow or creamy-white flowers in late spring (May-June).
  • Fruits are small, round, and white, borne on reddish-brown or red stalks.

Quirky Facts

  • It is said this tree can be "trained (as any good dog can be!) into a nice specimen small tree".

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Berries serve as a food source for wildlife, particularly birds.

Additional Information

  • Images of the Roughleaf Dogwood are available at Leafsnap, an electronic field guide.
  • Further information is available in Fact Sheet ST-184, November 1993, by Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson.
  • Dave's Garden offers tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.