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Cornus alternifolia

Alternate-leaf Dogwood · Green Osier · Pagoda Dogwood · Alternateleaf Dogwood

Family CornaceaeGenus Cornus

Flat clusters of small creamy white flowers above oval, veined green leaves
FlowerJamie HunterCC BY 4.0
A painted plate of a branch with a flat cream flower head and oval veined leaves, beside a second branch hung with black berries on red stalks.
IllustrationUnknownPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Shrub, TreePLANTS Database
Height
15-25 ft4.6-7.6 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
20-32 ft6.1-9.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Gold/Yellow, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 states, St. Pierre and MiquelonPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 14 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 2 weeks.

  3. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in March.

14 days from start to sowing.

65% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 3 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. alternifolia germ. best in outdoor treatment. Seed was collected in August and WC for 2 w. This seed germ. 65% in March in outdoor treatment. The next best was 40-70-40(4%)-70(14%)-40-70(26% in 2 d-4 w)-40-70(6%). All other treatments germ. 0-10%, but many of these were carried through only three cycles, and it is apparent that germination could have been continuing out to the the seventh cycle and beyond. DS is injurious. After a year in various treatments including outdoors, seeds DS 6 m at 70 or 40 in the WC state germ. only 0-2% and seeds DS in the dried berries germ. only o-10%. .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 30, 2026 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on November 29, 2025.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 14 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 2 weeks.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    14 germinated in this phase.

  7. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  8. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  9. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  10. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 8 run on after germination.

about 15 months from start to step 8. Germination happens during step 8, in 28 days.

26% germination in 2–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123Public domain
Show the original text
Cornus (Cornaceae). Seeds are always in berries so that WC was performed on all seeds before planting. Grinding ahole in the seed coat had no effect in C. alternifolia germ. best in outdoor treatment. Seed was collected in August and WC for 2 w. This seed germ. 65% in March in outdoor treatment. The next best was 40-70-40(4%)-70(14%)-40-70(26% in 2 d-4 w)-40-70(6%). All other treatments germ. 0-10%, but many of these were carried through only three cycles, and it is apparent that germination could have been continuing out to the the seventh cycle and beyond. DS is injurious. After a year in various treatments including outdoors, seeds DS 6 m at 70 or 40 in the WC state germ. only 0-2% and seeds DS in the dried berries germ. only o-10%. .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Cornus p. 123. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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