Pacific dogwood

Description

Cornus nuttallii, the Pacific dogwood, western dogwood, or mountain dogwood, is a species of dogwood tree native to western North America. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching 6–23 metres (20–75 ft) m tall, often with a canopy spread of 6 metres (20 ft). Its habit varies based on the level of sunlight- in full sun it will have a short trunk with a crown as wide as it is tall, while under a canopy it will have a tapered trunk with a short, slender crown. The branches have fine hairs and the young bark is thin and smooth, becoming scale-like with ridges as it ages. The leaves are opposite, simple, oval, 5–12.7 centimetres (2.0–5.0 in) long, and 3.8–7.1 centimetres (1.5–2.8 in) broad. They are hairier on the bottom and have stiff, appressed hairs on top. The flowers are individually small and inconspicuous, 2–3 millimetres (0.079–0.118 in) across, produced in a dense, rounded, greenish-white flowerhead 2 centimetres (0.79 in)diameter; the 4-8 large white "petals" are actually bracts, each bract 4–7 centimetres (1.6–2.8 in) long and broad. The flowers commonly bloom twice per season, once in the spring and again in late summer or early fall. The fruit is a compound pink-red or orange drupe about 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long, in clusters containing 20-40 drupelets, each of which contains two seeds. They appear in September or October. It occurs from the lowlands of southern British Columbia to the mountains of southern California. There exists an inland population in central Idaho, where it is considered critically imperiled. It occurs predominantly below 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in elevation. Cultivated examples are found as far north as Haida Gwaii. It has high flood tolerance, and is common along streams with moist but well-drained soils, often on gentle slopes. Soil composition can range from clay to sandy loam, and it prefers a high humus content, moderate to high nutrient levels, and acidic soils with a pH from 5.5 to 6. It has low frost tolerance, and is usually found in low-elevation temperate or mesothermal climates. It is hardy to USDA zone 7.