alternateleaf dogwood

Cornus alternifolia

Other Common Names:

flowering dogwood, alternate-leaved dogwood, pagoda dogwood

Description:

Alternateleaf dogwood is an understory dominant in the northeastern United States and in the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) forest of the Great Lakes region.

Common associates of alternateleaf dogwood include chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), American hazel (Corylus americana), hazelnut (C. cornuta), mountain maple (Acer spicatum), striped maple (A. pennsylvanicum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), mountain-laurel (Kalmia latifolia), huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.), and dogwoods (Cornus spp.).

Locations:

Found in woodlands and woodland edges across Wisconsin. Wisflora Online Database has recorded specimens from all counties except, Green Lake, Monroe and Winnebago.

Impact:

At least 11 species of birds including ruffed grouse eat alternateleaf dogwood. Black bear also eat the fruit. The leaves and stems are eaten by white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbits, and beavers.

alternate leaf dogwood

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
COAL2	alternateleaf dogwood	Cornus alternifolia

ITIS TSN: 27813

Category: Dicot

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Magnoliopsida

SubClass: Rosidae

Order: Cornales

Family: Cornaceae

Counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood

Natural Community: Southern Oak Forest-Oak Woodland, Southern Red Oak-Mixed Forest

Curtis Community:

Coefficient of Conservation: 7

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Perennial	Tree, Shrub	L48(N)CAN(N)SPM(N)

NR40 Listed Plant	Noxious Weed:	Invasive Species (NR40):	Threatened/Endangered:	WI Natural Heritage Index:	Wetland Status
					FAC;FACU

Active Growth Period: Spring and Summer

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat: None

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio: High

Coppice Potential: Yes

Conspicuous Fall Color: Yes

Fire Resistant: No

Flower Color: White

Conspicuous Flower: Yes

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Foliage Light Porosity Summer: Dense

Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous

Foliage Texture: Medium

Fruit/Seed Color: Black

Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: Yes

Growth Form: Multiple Stems

Growth Rate: Moderate

Height at Base Age (Max): 25

Height at Maturity: 30

Known Alelopath: No

Leaf Retention: No

Lifespan: Moderate

Low Growing Grass: No

Re-sproutability: Yes

Shape and Orientation: Erect

Toxicity: None

Height (min):

Height (max): 360

Root Type:

Leaf Type:

Leaf Arrangement:

Leaf Shape: oval, ovate

Leaf Margin:

Vein Pattern:

Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: No

Adapted to Medium Textured Soils: No

Adapted to Fine Textured Soils: Yes

Anaerobic Tolerance: None

CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Cold Stratification Required: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Low

Fertility Requirement: Medium

_Fire Tolerance: Low

Frost Free Days, Minimum: 120

Hedge Tolerance: Low

Moisture Use: High

pH (Minimum): 4.8

pH (Maximum): 7.3

Planting Density per Acre, Minimum: 1200

Planting Density per Acre, Maximum: 1700

Precipitation (Minimum): 24

Precipitation (Maximum): 70

Root Depth, Minimum (inches): 20

Salinity Tolerance: None

Shade Tolerance: Tolerant

Temperature, Minimum (°F): -47

Plant Spacing (min):

Plant Spacing (max):

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:
Mid Spring	No Known Source	Medium

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:
Summer	Fall	Yes

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:
Yes	No	Yes

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:
No	Yes	Yes

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:
No	No	No

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
8000	Slow	Low

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:
No	None

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:
Mid Spring	No Known Source	Medium

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:
Summer	Fall	Yes

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:
Yes	No	Yes

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:
No	Yes	Yes

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:
No	No	No

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
8000	Slow	Low

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:
No	None

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:

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