Gray Dogwood Seeds

Habitat

native to the eastern North America
hardy to zone 4, possibly warmer parts of 3

Habit and Form

a suckering shrub with a distinctly multi-stemmed habit
branching is upright and erect
shape is an irregular, broad-spreading clump
10′ to 15′ tall with an equal spread
plants can become a bit leggy with age
deciduous

Summer Foliage

opposite, simple leaves
leaves have a narrow elliptical shape and an acuminate tip
leaves are 2″ to 4″ long and 1″ to 2″ wide
leaf color is a dull gray-green

Autumn Foliage

develops a rich, reddish purple in full exposure

Flowers

small, creamy white flowers
held in 2″ diameter clusters
bloom time is early to mid-June
not extremely showy, but numerous

Fruit

produces white fruit, about 0.25′ diameter
readily eaten by birds
pedicels develop a vivid reddish pink color and are more showy than the actual fruit
colored pedicels affective into winter

Bark

older stems are a light gray
younger stems are orange-brown
bark and winter branch pattern are effective ornamentally
Culture

tolerant of sun or shade
also tolerant of dry or wet soils
easily transplanted
very adaptable
periodic rejuvenation pruning may be useful
Landscape Use

border
hedge
difficult growing sites
naturalistic areas
soil stabilization
wildlife food and shelter
Liabilities

leaf spot
scale relatively problem free
ID Features

colonizing, suckering habit (thicket forming)
orange-brown twigs
coral pink pedicels
white fruit
ash-gray older bark
narrow black hand just below the leaf scar

Propagation

by seed
by cuttings
Cultivars/Varieties

New on the market is The Counties of Ohio™ series of gray dogwoods out of Lake County Nursery. Selections include:

‘Cuyzam’ (Cuyahoga™) – A 12′ to 15′ tall “tree” form. Plant shape is pyramidal.

‘Geazam’ (Geauga™) – A dense, multi-stemmed shrub form reaching 8′ to 10′ tall and 4′ wide. Leaf color is black-green with red-brown new growth.

‘Hurzam’ (Huron™) – Notable for its multi-stemmed, rounded globular form to 4′ tall and wide. Good deep red fall color.

‘Mahzam’ (Mahoning™) – A large stoloniferous shrubby form, growing 10′ tall with good gray winter stem color. A suitable plant for stabilizing soil.

‘Muszam’ (Muckingum™ )- A dwarf form that grows 2′ tall, with a 4′ spread. Should be useful as a bank cover or ground cover.

‘Ottzam’ (Ottawa™) – A fastigiate tree form growing narrow to 12′ tall and 6′ wide. Perhaps useful under power lines or in moist situations.

Also seen occasionally:

‘Slavinii’ (also known as Slavin’s Dwarf) – A dwarf form that grows 2-3′ tall with a 4′ spread. Suckers readily and maintains a nice dense habit. Internodes are short and the leaves are slightly twisted.