How to identify Stiff dogwood (Cornus foemina)

How to identify Stiff dogwood (Cornus foemina)

Stiff dogwood, also known as Southern swamp dogwood

Stiff dogwood is a deciduous shrub or small tree that typically reaches heights of 10 to 25 feet (3 to 7.5 meters). The plant boasts red twigs and a smooth medium to dark green foliage on the upper surface, with a grayish-green, sparsely hairy underside. In the spring, it features clusters of white flowers with a notable scent. Come autumn, the leaves transition to a reddish-purple hue. Additionally, stiff dogwood produces pale blue to blue-violet fleshy fruits, preferred habitats are areas with wet soils, and it exhibits a gray bark on larger branches, while young branches are hairless and red with a white pith.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Stiff dogwood

Smooth red twigs contrast with dark green foliage.

Elliptical to lanceolate leaves with red midvein.

Clusters of white flowers with unpleasant scent.

Blue-violet fleshy fruits in 1/4 inch diameter.

Gray bark with ridges and grooves on aged trunk.

Detailed Traits of Stiff dogwood

Leaf Features

The leaves of stiff dogwood are elliptical, lanceolate, or oblanceolate with entire margins. They have a rounded base and an acuminate tip, measuring 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) in length. The midvein is red with 3 to 4 secondary veins. The upper surface is smooth and dark green, while the lower surface is sparsely hairy and grayish-green, aiding in their identification.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of stiff dogwood are tiny and white, forming clusters known as cymes. Each blossom features four petals and prominently extending stamens and stigma. These flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. Despite their small size, the flowers are noticeable due to their clusters, though their scent is reportedly unpleasant. After blooming, they are replaced by small, seeded drupes.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of stiff dogwood starts as green or red when young, later maturing to a reddish-brown hue before eventually turning a gray color as the plant ages. The young branches possess a white pith that becomes tan in older branches. The stems are medium-thick, and branching typically occurs at various heights, contributing to a multi-stemmed appearance. The texture of the stems evolves from smooth in young plants to slightly rough in older stems, aiding in the identification process.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of stiff dogwood is a striking blue drupe, approximately 1/4 inch (about 6 mm) in diameter. This small, fleshy fruit contains two seeds, encased within its thin skin that develops after the flowering period. The texture of the drupe is generally smooth, and the rich blue hue makes it quite distinctive. These characteristics of the fruit are often appreciated for their aesthetic contribution to the plant's overall appearance.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them

Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.