Wilson's Dogwood is deciduous to a semi-evergreen shrub or small tree that has showy, pale gray bark on the trunks of old, mature trees. This plant is native to forests of central and southern China. The species epithet, wilsoniana, honors Ernest H. Wilson, who collected this plant in the early 1900s. It is a member of the dogwood family (Cornaceae). Wilson's Dogwood may be planted in full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained, organically rich, and acidic soils. It performs best in cooler summer climates. It is important to keep this plant consistently moist and provide adequate mulch. The plant has small white flower clusters that appear in the spring, and purplish-black berries are present in the fall. The most prominent and attractive feature of this plant is its pale gray, smooth bark on old specimens. This plant a good candidate for year-round specimen interest in the landscape. It is suitable for an Asian garden, pollinator garden or winter garden. Quick ID Hints: Pale gray bark on mature trees Papery grayish-green leaves with fine white hairs on the undersides Small white flowers that grow in clusters in the spring Small purplish-black berries appear in the fall Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious insect or disease problems . Occasional pests include borers, leaf miners, and scale. Canker, leaf spot, and root rot may occur. This species is thought to be resistant to twig blight. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. More information on Cornus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 16 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 12 ft. 0 in. - 33 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-trunked
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery; Soft
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are papery, simple, and opposite. They are elliptical to ovate and measure 2.25 to 4.5 inches long and 0.75 to 2.25 inches wide. The upper leaf surface is grayish-green, and the lower surface is covered with dense white hairs.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Cross
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The small white flowers appear on the terminal branches. The blooms are arranged in clusters or cymes and measure 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Flowering occurs in May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits are purplish-black drupes and measure less than 0.25 inches in diameter. Each drupe contains a small ribbed stone. They are present from September to October.
Bark color
Green; Light Gray; White
Bark detail
The bark is gray or greenish-gray, and it splits and flakes in rectangular plates. Mature trees have smooth, ghost-white trunks.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
The young branches are grayish-green, angled, and have grayish hairs. The older branches are brown and smooth with narrow lenticels.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central and Southern China
Distribution
Native: China North-Central, China South-Central, and China Southeast; Distribution: North America, Europe, and Australia
Wildlife value
The flowers attract butterflies for nectar and pollen. The tree is deer tolerant.
Attracts
Butterflies
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
In China, the wood of the tree may be used to make farm tools and furniture. The leaves are a source of food for livestock. The fruits are a source of oil.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Small Tree; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#showy fruits #deciduous shrub #deciduous #purple fruits #black fruits #specimen #fruits fall #deciduous tree #lawn tree #street tree #small tree #interesting bark #spring flowers #deer resistant #semi-evergreen #white bark #winter interest #year-round interest #fruits early fall #flowering tree #flowering shrub #white flowers
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Dogwood Borer; Dogwood Twig Borer; Dogwood Sawfly; Pests of Dogwood; Insect Pests of Dogwood in North Carolina