Range: Maine across to Kansas, south to Texas, east to Florida; also in Mexico.
Distinguishing Features: The opposite, toothless leaves with deeply impressed veins distinguish this species.
OTHER DOGWOODS
Several other dogwoods, most of them rarely if ever attaining the stature of small trees, occur in Illinois.
Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa Lam.). This plant rarely exceeds a height of 10 feet. It is distinguished by its slender gray twigs, its small white flowers borne in clusters about as broad as high, and its white berries about ¼ inch in diameter. The Racemose Dogwood occurs in a variety of habitats, including prairies and woods.
Stiff Dogwood (Cornus foemina Mill.). This small dogwood has brownish twigs with white pith and bluish fruits. Its leaves usually are smooth on both surfaces. It occurs in low, wet woods.
Round-leaved Dogwood (Cornus rugosa Lam.). As the name implies, this shrubby dogwood has roundish leaves which are woolly on the lower surface. The greenish twigs have white pith. The berries are pale blue. The Round-leaved Dogwood grows in dry, rocky woods.
Red Osier (Cornus stolonifera Michx.). Red Osier has dark red twigs with white pith. The leaves are pale and somewhat hairy on the lower surface. The berries are white or grayish. Red Osier usually grows along shores, often forming thickets.
Silky Dogwood (Cornus obliqua Raf.). This plant is usually a shrub, but may get as much as 15 feet tall. It has twigs with pale brown pith. The leaves are pale on the lower surface, and usually have white, appressed hairs. The berries are blue. Silky Dogwood grows in low ground.