Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Roughleaf Dogwood

Cornus drummondii

Other common name(s):

Drummond's Dogwood, Rough-leaf Dogwood

Family:

Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

10
to
15
ft.

Spread

10
to
16
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Light Requirement

Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Riparian, Woodland, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Moderate to slow growing depending on conditions. Does well in dense shade but fruits best in 4 hours of sun. Good for erosion control and screening. Can prune into small tree. It spreads from root sprouts forming thickets so give lots of space or pull sprouts. Provides purplish-red fall color. Dogwoods can be afflicted with many disease and insect problems, but most of these are not serious if the plants are kept in good health. Native habitat: swamps and marshes, wet to dry woods and thickets, lake and stream banks, dry, limestone hills, fields, meadows, along the edges of woods and prairies,

Description

Blooms May-July. A clumping shrub or thicket forming small tree with reddish brown or gray branchlets. Leaves are oval with upper surface slightly rough, and lower surface velvety. Small white flowers occur in broad clusters at the ends of branches, followed by hard, white fruit.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Cornus priceae, Swida priceae

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 52. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CODR. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Cornus+drummondii&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=7977&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=27807#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed Stratification Roughleaf Dogwood seeds require a period of cold stratification to mimic natural winter conditions and break their dormancy. Place the seeds in a moistened paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag, and store them in the refrigerator for 60-90 days. After stratification, sow the seeds in a seed-starting mix, pressing them gently into the soil. Keep the soil consistently moist and place the seed tray in a bright location, out of direct sunlight. Germination can take several weeks to a few months. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into individual pots or directly into your garden. Collect ripe fruits (drupes) in the fall. The fruits will be small, white, and clustered together. Gently crush the fruits and separate the seeds. Clean any remaining fruit pulp from the seeds. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CODR 2) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-cornus-drummondii/
Semi-harwood Cutting Dip the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder to encourage faster root development. Fill a small pot with a well-draining potting mix. Create a small hole in the center and gently insert the cutting. Water thoroughly. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag or use a propagation dome to maintain humidity and warmth. This will help create a greenhouse-like environment for the cutting. Place the pot in a bright location, but out of direct sunlight. Check the moisture regularly and mist the cutting to maintain humidity. Within a few weeks, you should start to see new growth, a sign that roots are developing. Once the cutting shows significant root development (usually within 6-8 weeks), you can transplant it into a larger pot or directly into your garden. The best time for taking cuttings is late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. Select a healthy stem that’s around 4-6 inches long and free from any damage or disease. Look for a stem with new growth, as this indicates active hormones that will aid in root development. Using sharp, sterilized pruning shears, make a cut just below a leaf node (the point where a leaf emerges from the stem). Remove the leaves from the bottom third of the cutting. 1) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-cornus-drummondii/ 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Cornus_drummondii.html

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason