Our Local Ecology The Land - Tree IdentificationDogwood Trees Alternate-Leaved Dogwood - Cornus alternifolia (L.f.)Other Common Names: Dogwood Alternate-leaved Dogwood is found scattered throughout the province. It is a shrub or small tree rarely exceeding 30 feet in height with a diameter of 4 inches. It has a low spreading crown made up of nearly horizontal branches and numerous short smooth upright twigs and branchlets. It is easily distinguished from the red-osier dogwood by its alternate leaves and its dark green or purplish twigs often streaked with white. It prefers rich soils and is commonly found on ravine slopes and intervales. The wood is of no commercial importance because of its size. DESCRIPTION LEAVES: Alternate, simple, ovate, entire, rounded or wedge-shaped at the base, acute at the tip, 4 to 6 inches long, dark green above, paler green and slightly hairy below. FLOWERS: June-July, cream-colored, borne in flat clusters, 11/2 to 2 inches in diameter; petals 4 in number, shaped like a lance. FRUIT: Autumn, a blue drupe, round about 1/4 of an inch in diameter; stone variable in shape. TWIGS: Slender, dark green or purplish often streaked with white. Terminal bud 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long, greenish, slightly pubescent; laterals similar. BARK: Smooth, green to dark green at first, becoming darker and rougher as it grows old. WOOD: Light, soft, not strong, fine-textured, diffuse-porous; creamy-white with lighter sapwood.
Red-Osier Dogwood - Cornus stoloniferaOther Common Names: Dogwood Red-Osier Dogwood is found in damp sites throughout the province. It is a small shrub from three to six feet in height. The whip-like. branches often divide into ascending branches topped with a rounded crown. It spreads by means of underground shoots so that a single plant quickly makes itself into a thicket. It is found in damp sites along the borders of swamps, streams and brooks, in pure thickets or with speckled alder. It is also found along hedges and fences. Its deep red twigs, pale green leaves tinged with red and white flowers makes it an ideal shrub for ornamental planting. The wood is of no commercial importance. DESCRIPTION LEAVES: Opposite, simple, ovate, entire, rounded or wedge-shaped at the base, acute at tip, 4 to 6 inches long, dark green, somewhat downy above, paler green or white and somewhat downy below. FLOWERS: June-July; perfect, cream-white, borne in flat clusters, one to two inches in diameter; petals four in number; bisexual. FRUIT: September-October, a white or whitish drupe, about 1/4 of an inch in diameter; stone variable in shape. TWIGS: Slender, at first reddish, downy, later dark red. Terminal bud rolled inward slightly, reddish, covered with white hairs above and below; lateral buds similar. BARK: Smooth, reddish, downy at first; later darker red; in the winter stems become a bright purplish red, smooth and shiny. WOOD: Light, soft, not strong, fine-textured, diffuse-porous; creamy-white with lighter sapwood.
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