Cornus foemina aka Stiff Dogwood

Cornus foemina, called stiff dogwood or swamp dogwood, belongs to the dogwood family. This deciduous shrub or small tree comes from the eastern United States. Its range spans the lower Midwest and Mid-Atlantic south to the Gulf Coast. It grows in swamps, floodplain woods, and other damp places. Wild plants also line streams, ponds, and lakes.

In gardens, it reaches about 8–20 feet (2.4–6.1 metres) tall. Its rounded crown spreads 10–20 feet (3–6.1 metres) wide. Some plants reach 25 feet (7.6 metres) tall. Most plants have several trunks, but they lack spreading rhizomes. Young twigs can be red or green, then turn reddish brown. Older bark turns gray and develops grooves. Young branches have white pith. Leaves grow in opposite pairs and have smooth edges. Their shapes range from oval to narrow and pointed. The upper surface is smooth and dark green. Sparse hairs cover the pale gray-green underside. Fall leaves can turn reddish purple.

Small white flowers form flat-topped cymes at the branch tips. Bloom runs from April to June. Each flower has four petals, with stamens extending above them. The scent can be unpleasant despite the showy flower clusters. Bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies visit for nectar and pollen. Blue to blue-violet drupes follow, adding color in fall. Each fruit holds two seeds and measures about one-quarter inch across. Songbirds and small mammals eat the fruit. Spring azure butterfly larvae feed on the leaves. Deer and rabbits browse the foliage and twigs.

Grow stiff dogwood in full sun for best results. It also accepts partial shade. Rich loam that stays moist to wet suits it well. It tolerates sand, clay, and a broad soil pH range. Poor drainage and wet ground are not major limits. Sources place it in USDA zones 6–10. It needs little upkeep and can be raised from seed. Use it beside ponds, along streams, or in rain gardens. It also suits hedges, borders, wet woods, and erosion control. Its loose form may look untidy in formal settings.

Serious pest and disease trouble is uncommon. Scale, borers, and leaf miners can still attack it. Occasional diseases include leaf spot, crown canker, blights, and root rot. Powdery mildew may also occur. The supplied sources describe its fruit as wildlife food. They do not establish human edibility or safety for pets.