Rough-leaved dogwood (Cornus drummondii) is a native Missouri thicket-former that reaches 15 to 30 feet tall and wide, offering year-round interest with tiny yellowish-white flowers in spring and showy white berries beloved by birds. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, this species thrives where many other dogwoods struggle: it tolerates drier soils than any other native Missouri dogwood and adapts to everything from wet lowlands to rocky glades. Unlike its ornamental cousins prone to anthracnose disease, this tough native comes with virtually no serious pest or disease problems in its home range.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-9
360in H x 180in W
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Moderate
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Rough-leaved dogwood is genuinely low-maintenance, a native species that spreads by underground stems to form natural colonies without fussing. The elliptic, rough-textured leaves (up to 5 inches long) give the tree its distinctive character, and the profuse white berries that follow spring flowers feed birds throughout the season. Its real strength lies in adaptability: it handles poor soils, drier conditions, and moisture extremes that would challenge other dogwoods, making it practical for rain gardens, hedgerows, and naturalized landscapes where you want native vigor without constant coddling.
Rough-leaved dogwood serves multiple landscape functions simultaneously. It thrives as a flowering tree in spring, creates natural hedging through its thicket-forming habit, stabilizes soil in rain gardens and erosion-prone sites, and works as a street tree where its compact spread and native resilience are assets. The abundant white berries attract birds and butterflies, making it especially valuable in wildlife gardens and naturalized plantings where you want to support local fauna.
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Transplant container-grown or bare-root rough-leaved dogwood in spring or fall, placing it at the same depth it grew in its nursery pot. Space plants 12 to 15 feet apart if establishing hedgerows or naturalized groves.
Minimal pruning is required; rough-leaved dogwood's naturally spreading form is part of its landscape value. Promptly remove any root suckers if you want to maintain a single-trunk tree form rather than allowing the natural thicket-forming tendency. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches as needed to maintain an open canopy, ideally in late winter before spring growth.
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“Cornus drummondii is a common native across the central United States, deeply embedded in the ecology of Missouri's rocky woods, glades, thickets, and prairies. Named for its distinctly rough upper leaf surface and downy undersides, this species was never rare or endangered; rather, it represents the baseline of native dogwood hardiness and adaptability. Its widespread presence in wild Missouri landscapes means gardeners are working with a plant whose behavior and needs are well-documented by generations of regional naturalists and botanists.”