Cornus drummondii C.A. Meyer

Midwestern Roughleaf Dogwood

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Midwestern Roughleaf Dogwood is a native deciduous shrub in the Dogwood family (Cornaceae). It is native to the Black Belt region of central Alabama, the Tennessee Valley of north Alabama, and the Jackson Prairie region of southwest Alabama. Midwestern Roughleaf Dogwood occurs in prairie woodlands, on limestone outcrops, in rocky woods, along fence row’s, and in other areas underlain by limestone. It is rhizomatous and often forms thickets. Midwestern Roughleaf Dogwood is a single or multi-trunked shrub reaching 20 feet in height. The bark is gray in color and divided into square or rectangular plates with corky bumps. Young twigs are pinkish-red and pubescent, with inconspicuous lenticels. The pith is white, tan, or brown. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, lanceolate to ovate in outline, entire, and rough pubescent on both surfaces with upward curving or appressed hairs. There are 3-5 pairs of lateral veins that curve upwards towards the apex of the leaf. Flowers are produced in flat-topped terminal or axillary cymes. Individual flowers have 4 lanceolate white petals and 4 stamens. The fruit is a white drupe. The fruit is consumed by a wide variety of birds and small mammals. Midwestern Roughleaf Dogwood is occasionally available from native plant nurseries. It tolerates a wide range of soils including heavy clays. It prefers a site with full to partial sun. Midwestern Roughleaf Dogwood can be used as an informal hedge, as a property screen, or as a shrub border.—A. Diamond

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Native FAC (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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