Roughleaf Dogwood
Cornus drummondii
photo by John Knouse
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cornaceae
- Genus:
- Cornus
- Species:
- Cornus drummondii
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 20-40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr, may, jun, jul
- Bloom Colors:
- White
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Canada: Ontario
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers moist environments but can adapt to drier conditions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Warm stratification for at least 60 days in a moist environment followed by a longer period at a much lower temperature. Alternatively, immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid for 1 to 3 hours or mechanical scarification can be used. Soaking stones in gibberellic acid for 24 hours has also been successful.
Establishment: Seeds are typically collected from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery in south central Missouri. The seeds are one-seeded fleshy drupes that are white or sometimes light blue at maturity, typically 4 to 7 mm in diameter and mature from August to October. Mature seeds are round and 3 to 5 mm in diameter.
Source: npn.rngr.net