The common name of this tree refers to the way its leaves and twigs are arranged along the stem.  All other dogwood species have leaves and twigs that grow opposite of each other along the branch. This is the only dogwood species whose leaves and twigs grow alternately - a true original!  A characteristic that all dogwoods share is the pattern of veins in the leaf, starting from the base and running along the leaf edge to the tip, scientifically referred to as "arcuate veination".

Alternate-leaf dogwood is often referred to as pagoda dogwood in the landscape industry because of its growth habit, as opposed to its origins.  Trees such as this who grow in the shady forest understory adapt this type of horizontal growth pattern to take advantage of sunlight filtering through the canopy overhead.  It generally attains heights of 25 - 40 feet, with a similar spread.  Alternate-leaf dogwood grow best on well-drained, deep soils and is found in moist woodlands, along forest margins and on stream and swamp borders.  Look for creamy-white flowers in spring and very dark blue fruits in the fall.

An important wildlife species: black bear eat the fruit; leaves and stems are eaten by white-tailed deer cottontail rabbits, and beavers; and at least 11 species of bird, including ruffed grouse, depend on this tree for food.

Alternate-leaf dogwood is native to Newfoundland through the New England States to the Florida Panhandle, extending west to the northern shores of Lake Superior and eastern Minnesota and south through the Midwest States to Arkansas and Mississippi.

This tree pictured here is growing on the south-eastern side of Hewitt hall.  Click here for other campus locations of alternate-leaf dogwood.