# Dogwood Shrub (*Hyalophora cecropia*)

Dogwood Shrub is a small bush that produces lovely flowers in spring. It can be found in gardens and parks!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Woodlands and gardens
- **Also known as:** Cornelian Cherry, Cornus, dogwoods

![Dogwood Shrub](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426806/objects/5040.jpg)

## Appearance

The Dogwood Shrub has vibrant red stems, especially prominent in winter, and oval green leaves that often turn reddish-purple in fall. Its small, yellowish-white flowers grow in dense clusters, sometimes surrounded by large, showy white or pink petal-like bracts.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Genus:** Hyalophora

## Interesting facts

- Its showy 'petals' are actually modified leaves called bracts, not true flower petals!
- Native Americans once used its incredibly tough wood to craft arrows and tools!
- Some dogwood varieties have such brilliant red stems, they look like fire in the winter snow!
- The berries, though often bitter to humans, are a feast for many birds and small mammals!

## Special abilities

- **Winter Glow:** Dogwood Shrub can change its bark color to vivid red in winter, providing beauty and attracting attention even during the cold season.
- **Berry Bonanza:** Dogwood Shrub produces bright red or white berries that offer crucial food for many birds and wildlife, aiding seed dispersal.
- **Rooty Reinforcers:** Dogwood Shrub has a strong, spreading root system that helps prevent soil erosion along stream banks and slopes.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 100-400 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — consumes its berries
- **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — forages on its fruit
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Depends on:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — visits flowers for nectar

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Dogwood Shrub?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Dogwood Shrub?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Dogwood Shrub spread?

100-400 cm

### How big are the flowers on Dogwood Shrub?

0.5-1.5 cm

### When does Dogwood Shrub bloom?

Spring

### Is Dogwood Shrub edible?

No

### Is Dogwood Shrub toxic?

Mild

### What is Dogwood Shrub's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Dogwood Shrub: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dogwood-shrub)