Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

- The Gray Dogwood gets its name from the color of its bark, which is primarily orange in its youth but turns gray over time.

- Best planted in early spring, the Gray Dogwood is a deciduous shrub that reproduces through the agency of rhizomes. The shrub produces dome-shaped clusters of white flowers that bloom from May through June

- They have a slow growth rate of less than 12 inches per year and can reach anywhere between 10 to 15 feet tall as a shrub and up to 25 feet as a small tree at full maturity.

- They are adaptive to extreme climates and can even thrive during extended dry periods. Not only does this year-round shrub require little maintenance, but its versatility makes it a popular landscaping choice.

- Gray Dogwoods attract major pollinators, provide fruits for WNC wildlife such as black bears, white-tailed deer, squirrels, and raccoons, and even serve as nesting sites for various bird species.