Round-leaf Dogwood, Round Leaved Dogwood

Native to around the Great Lakes from northern MN over into Nova Scotia, New England, northern NJ much of PA, down to some spots in VA & ...Read MoreWV. A perfectly fine native shrub of medium size to large. Very similar to Gray Dogwood, Silky Dogwood, and even Redosier Dogwood without the red stems. Moderately acid to very alkaline soils to pH 8.5. Very shade tolerant to full sun. Likes dry to average soil moisture. Bears light blue berries in flat-topped clusters in late summer that are good or birds. Not sold by conventional nurseries, but by some native nurseries, that value more diversity in having more species than the other.

Rangy shrub (a volunteer) growing on side of the road in dry rocky soil. Sun to part-shade. Good screen in summer. Shrub is 8' tall, w...Read Moreith a coarse look. (It would probably look better if I pruned it regularly.) No particular winter color to the branches, even on younger wood. Sometimes gets a burgundy cast to its leaves in autumn, but color is not reliable. Flowers are inconspicuous; light blue fruits on red stems are interesting in late summer but disappear fast. Biggest problem is that it suckers extensively, under a rock wall and 6 feet into a shrub border. Suckers are numerous, thick and hard to control. Every spring I think about trying to kill it off, but I admire its toughness and utility as a food source for native insects (Spring Azure?) and birds. Deer don't bother it, unlike the other dogwoods in my yard. [Note: Viburnum acerifolium and Corylus cornuta grow beside it, but in more shade.]