Cornus racemosa

Native

Moderate moisture to somewhat dry. Hardwood forests. Shade tolerant.

Early June to early July

White

6′ to 15′

This plant gets its name from the color of its stems and twigs. The bark of the older branches is gray. The twigs are gray to reddish-brown or maroon-brown. Other dogwoods have reddish or purple spotted bark. The leaves are narrow elliptic to ovate-lanceolate and have a cuneate base. They have 3 or 4 pairs of prominent, parallel veins. The flower stems turn bright red in June before the flowers open and retain that color through winter. The berries are white on red stems.