Cornus controversa
Common name: 
Giant Dogwood
Pronunciation: 
KOR-nus kon-tro-VER-sa
Family: 
Cornaceae
Genus: 
Cornus
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous tree, 30-45 ft (11-14 m), wide-spreading horizontal branches.  Leaves simple, 7.5-16 cm long, alternate, (C. controversa and C. alternifolia are the only dogwoods that have alternate leaves), 6-8 or sometimes 9 vein pairs, long petiole.  May turn purple in fall.  Creamy-white flowers borne in spring on 3.5-18 cm diam. flat-topped clusters (cymes).  Fruit (6 mm diam.) progresses from reddish to purple-black in Aug.-Sept.
  • Sun, part shade, moist soil.  Grows rapidly.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (4?) 5     Native to Japan and China.
  • controversa: controversial
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: northeast corner of Snell Hall
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  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • leaves and flowers

    leaves and flowers

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • plant habit, fall

    plant habit, fall

  • leaves, fall

    leaves, fall

  • trunk, bark

    trunk, bark

  • branches, winter

    branches, winter

  • twigs and buds, winter

    twigs and buds, winter