The Gray Dogwood, or Cornus racemosa, is a perennial shrub that is native to majority of the northeastern United States and Texas. The gray dogwood grows 4 to 25 feet in height. This might be the first shrub/woody plant we look at in our plant profile series!

Along with being a natively growing plant, gray dogwood is often used as a decorative plant as well. This is due to its lush green leaves, showy flowers, and pretty white fruits that grow in contrast with vibrant red stems. The flowers and fruits grow in flat topped clusters in abundant amounts. This shrub is easy to grow due to its ability to grow in multiple conditions (sun or shade, moist or rocky ground), and its resistance to many plant diseases and pests.

Gray dogwood is a great addition to gardens and landscaping due to its ability to attract wildlife as well! The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Their fruits are a food source for many different species of birds. The leaves are foraged by deer.

The flowers bloom in spring to summer (May to June), and the fruits grow from late summer through winter.

Check out some other plant profiles: Plant Profile: Bergamot (Bee Balm), Plant Profile: Sunflowers, Plant Profile: Poison Hemlock.