Alternate-leaved Dogwood, also called Alternate-leaf Dogwood or Pagoda Dogwood, is a fairly common large shrub or small tree found primarily in the Mountains in North Carolina, rare in the Piedmont. Appropriately enough, it differs from other species of Cornus in having alternate leaves -- all our other species are opposite-leaved. The leaves are otherwise similar to other dogwoods, with the characteristic leaf venation: the veins become nearly parallel to the margin as they approach it.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.

The leaf undersides are glaucous.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.

The inflorescences are similar to most other shrub dogwoods, such as Swamp Dogwood (C. amomum), lacking the white bracts of Flowering Dogwood (C. florida).

Clay Co., NC 5/22/2005.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.

The bark on smaller trees is green.

Clay Co., NC 5/19/07.