Dogwood

Cornus ×intermedia

Native to:
Aleutian Is., Canada, China, Greenland, Japan, Korea, Kuril Is., Labrador, Myanmar, Prince Edward I., Russia, United States
Dogwood

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Cornaceae
Genus:
Cornus
Species:
Cornus ×intermedia
USDA Symbol:
COIN19

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Subshrub
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Acleris cornana, Ancylis apicana, Antispila freemani, Archips purpurana, black-and-white leafroller (Syndemis afflictana), Caloptilia canadensisella, Caloptilia cornusella, Coleophora salicivorella, Eversmann's rustic (Actebia fennica), Olethreutes punctanum, probole moth (Probole nepiasaria), tentoriferella (Machimia tentoriferella), white triangle tortrix (Clepsis persicana), White-lined leafroller (Amorbia humerosana), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, butterflies
Fall Color:
red, purple

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage preferred
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
Prefers organic-rich soils in native habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Requires warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Seeds may take two seasons to germinate.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI