NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Cornus alternifolia [= Swida alternifolia]

Scientific Name:	Cornus alternifolia [= Swida alternifolia]
Genus:	Cornus
Species Epithet:	alternifolia
Common Name:	Alternate-leaf Dogwood, Pagoda Cornel, Pagoda Dogwood
Plant Type	Tree/Shrub
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	12-36 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont
Habitat Description:	Moist forests. Common in NC mountains, rare in piedmont.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Highly Recommended and Available
State Rank:	S4: Apparently secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
State Status:	W6: Watch List: Regionally Rare ^(*Key)
Notes:	Our only alternate-leaved dogwood. Bluish-black fruits relished by birds.
Distinctive tiered/layered horizontal branching which is upward-turned at the tips. Leaves are alternate but clustered towards the branch tips. Broad, flattened cymes of white flowers. Macon County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cornus-alternifolia/ https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/swida/alternifolia/ https://nc.audubon.org/700

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