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Cornus drummondii

roughleaf dogwood

Cornaceae Central United States

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Cornus drummondii is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree in the dogwood family, growing 6-15 feet (1.8-4.5 m) tall and spreading by root suckers into broad thickets. The opposite leaves are oval, 1.5-5 inches (4-13 cm) long, with a rough, sandpapery upper surface and a paler, hairy underside, turning dull red to purple in autumn. In late spring and early summer, flat-topped clusters 1.5-3 inches (4-8 cm) wide carry many small, creamy-white, four-petaled flowers. These give way to round white drupes about 0.2 inch (5 mm) across, held on bright red stalks that persist after the fruit is eaten. The shrub grows along stream banks, fencerows, woodland edges, prairies, and disturbed ground across the central United States. It tolerates drought, heat, poor soil, and occasional flooding, and the spreading roots form dense colonies that can overtake smaller plantings. The fruit feeds many birds, while the foliage and twigs support browsing wildlife. Pruning controls the suckering spread where a single specimen is wanted.

Native Range

Native to the central United States, from the Great Lakes and Great Plains south to Texas and east to the Appalachians. It grows along stream banks, fencerows, woodland margins, prairies, and disturbed ground.

Suggested Uses

Grown for screening, hedgerows, bank stabilisation, and wildlife plantings on difficult, dry, or disturbed sites. Its suckering habit suits naturalised areas, shelterbelts, and erosion control rather than tidy borders. The flowers feed pollinators and the white fruit draws many songbirds.

How to Identify

Identify by the opposite, oval leaves with a rough, sandpapery upper surface and the flat-topped clusters of creamy-white flowers in early summer. White drupes on bright red, branching stalks follow and the red stalks persist after the fruit drops. The rough leaf texture and red fruit stalks separate it from smoother-leaved dogwoods.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 15'

Width/Spread6' - 15'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

red

purple

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring Summer

Flat-topped clusters of creamy-white flowers open in late spring and early summer, usually May to June. The flowers draw bees and other insects. Round white fruits ripen from late summer into autumn on red stalks.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand rocky

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Moderate to fast; 4-8 years to mature size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Performs in full sun to part shade on most soils across a pH from 5.5 to 7.5, including clay, loam, and rocky ground. Once established it tolerates drought, heat, and short periods of flooding, and it is hardy in zones 4 to 8. The plant suckers freely from the roots and spreads into thickets, so it needs room or regular removal of suckers in a border. It grows quickly and needs little feeding on average soils. Long periods of standing water and deep shade reduce flowering and fruiting. Renewal pruning keeps a multi-stemmed shrub dense and vigorous.

Pruning

Prune in late winter to remove old, weak, or crossing stems and to renew a few of the oldest canes each year. Removing root suckers keeps the plant as a single shrub rather than a spreading thicket. It tolerates hard cutting back and resprouts readily from the base.