Drummond's Dogwood Cornus drummondii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cornus priceae
- Swida priceae
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOR-nus drum-AWN-dee-eye
- Description
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Roughleaf dogwood is a deciduous large shrub or small tree in the Cornaceae (dogwood) family usually growing up to 16 feet tall and 16 feet wide. The plant may be easily recognized by its rough upper leaf surfaces, small creamy-white flowers, white fruits, and purplish-red foliage in the fall. It is a member of the Cornaceae or Dogwood Family.
It is native to Southeast Canada and the Central and East-Central parts of the United States. Their habitats include rocky woodlands, floodplain woodlands, prairies, thickets, and woods near rivers and streams.
The genus name, Cornus, is Latin from the word, cornu which means "horn." This is in reference to the hardness of the wood. The species name, drummondii, references Thomas Drummond. He was an 18th-century botanist from Scotland. He came to the United States in 1830 to collect specimens of plants from the western and southern United States.
The Roughleaf Dogwood may be grown in full sun to partial shade with average medium to wet soils. It is an adaptable plant and has been found in wet and dry conditions and is poor soil tolerant. The plant grows quickly and develops suckers. It will require pruning to develop a strong structure. The shrub or tree can be propagated from seeds, softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, suckers, division, and layering.
The tree has gray bark and the stems are reddish-brown. The leaves are green, rough, and hairy. The flowers bloom in the spring and are creamy-white clusters on the ends of the branches. In the late summer and fall, showy white drupes appear. The fall foliage is showy and eye-catching purplish-red.
The Roughleaf Dogwood attracts butterflies, bees, and moths for the nectar of their flowers. The fruits attract many songbirds and small mammals. Deer and Elk may also browse the leaves. Some birds nest in the thickets of this shrub.
Because this plant grows so quickly and suckers, it may be best used in naturalized areas versus a lawn or garden setting. It may also help stabilize banks and provide erosion control. The roughleaf dogwood will attract much wildlife as a source of food and shelter and add interest to a naturalized area. It forms a dense thicket and has been used as a hedge, border, or screen.
Seasons of Interest:
Foliage: Fall Bloom: Spring and Early Summer Fruit: Late Summer and Fall Bark and Twigs: Winter
Quick ID Hints:
- shrub or tree forms a dense thicket
- green, rough, and hairy upper leaf surfaces and lighter green, soft hairs on the undersides
- purple fall foliage
- creamy white flowers arranged in cymes in the spring
- fruits are white drupes late summer and fall
- spreads by root sprouts
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: The tree or shrub has no serious insect or disease problems. Pests may include beetles, mites, leafminers, borers, and scale. They may be susceptible to leaf spot, twig blight, leaf blight, and canker.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- drummondii
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Canada to Central and East Central U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- Native: Canada--Ontario; US--AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NY, OH, OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, and WI; Introduced: VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies are attracted to the flowers, and birds are attracted to the fruits. The tree provides cover for wildlife. Some small birds use the tree for nesting in thickets.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Dense
- Oval
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are fleshy round white drupes that measure about 0.25 inches in diameter. Each drupe contains a stone. The drupes are a food source, and they attract birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and black bears.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers bloom from April to June for about 2-3 weeks. They appear in clusters at the ends of branches. Each cyme measures about 2 to 4 inches across. The flower is four-petaled, creamy-white. Each flower measures about 0.25 inches across.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are green, simple, ovate to elliptical with entire margins. They measure 4 to 8 inches long and 2-4 inches wide. The upper surface of the leaf is rough and hairy. The lower surface is a lighter green and softly pubescent. The leaves turn purplish-red in the fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The trunk has gray bark and is covered with rough, flat scales. The branches are thin and gray with small bumps.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The young branchlets and twigs are green to reddish-brown and pubescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Erosion
- Poor Soil