Blackfruit Dogwood

Cornus sessilis

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Cornaceae
Genus:
Cornus
Species:
Cornus sessilis
USDA Symbol:
COSE3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
500 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
yellow, green
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

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)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds
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:
native to riparian areas, prefers fertile soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI