Gray dogwood is a deciduous shrub native to Missouri that thrives in hardiness zones 4 through 8, growing 10 to 15 feet tall and equally wide. In late spring, it erupts with showy white flowers arranged in terminal racemes, followed by grayish-green elliptic leaves that turn a dusky purplish red come autumn. This tough native shrub tolerates everything from wet meadows to rocky bluffs, making it equally at home in a rain garden or a challenging urban site where air pollution might discourage other plants.
Partial Sun
Moderate
4-8
180in H x 180in W
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Moderate
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Gray dogwood spreads into beautiful natural thickets if allowed to grow, though you can control this by removing root suckers. Its real strength lies in its unfussy nature: it grows in average soil, handles both wet and dry conditions with equal aplomb, and asks for nothing but moderate water once established. Birds and butterflies visit regularly, while deer leave it alone entirely. For anyone tired of coddling ornamental shrubs, this Missouri native simply works.
Gray dogwood is most valued in rain gardens and native plant landscapes where its tolerance for wet soil and natural thicket-forming habit serve ecological purposes. Its ability to thrive in poor urban soil and withstand air pollution makes it useful for urban restoration and screening applications. Gardeners plant it as a four-season interest shrub: spring flowers, summer foliage, autumn color, and a framework of bare branches in winter.
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Plant gray dogwood in spring or fall in full sun to partial shade. Space shrubs 10 to 15 feet apart to allow room for mature spread. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball and backfill with average, medium soil; water well after planting.
Prune gray dogwood in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. If you want to control its natural tendency to spread via root suckers and form thickets, remove suckers as they appear. Otherwise, allow it to develop its natural, spreading form.
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“Cornus racemosa is a species native to Missouri and the broader eastern United States, where it naturally occurs along streams, ponds, and wet meadows. It has been recognized and cultivated as a landscape plant because of its ease of growth and native habitat value, though it has not been extensively hybridized or selected like some ornamental dogwoods. Its presence in the Missouri Botanical Garden's collections reflects its status as a regionally important native shrub.”