Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

Pacific dogwood is a highly ornamental, medium-sized tree, with large, iconic flowers that are the provincial flower of BC. It has an attractive upright form that can be single or multi-stemmed, and makes a beautiful specimen tree for both formal and woodland gardens. The showy flowers are replaced by clusters of red fruits in late summer, and the leaves turn shades of yellow and red in the fall. This shade-loving tree can be difficult to establish and doesn't transplant well, so take care when siting it.

Sun Exposure: Prefers partial shade, tolerates full sun.
Soil & Moisture: Moist to seasonally dry, humus-rich, acidic, well-drained soil.
Mature Size: 30'-50' tall, 20'-25' wide
Bloom Time: Spring to early summer
Edible: No
Wildlife Value: Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Butterfly host plant. Specialist bee host. Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals. Provides cover and habitat for birds and small mammals. Young shoots are browsed by deer and elk.
Native Range & Habitat: Open forests, forest edges, slopes, and streambanks from low to middle elevations. Along the west coast from British Columbia to California.
Other Names: Western flowering dogwood, Kwi’txulhp (Hul'q'umi'num')