Cornus

The pagoda dogwood grows naturally throughout a large area of eastern North America. It is a small attractive shrub-like tree, but seldom planted in Finland. It is at its best when it has achieved its full size, the branches spreading in ascending layers and the beautiful crown at its full extent.

American, or red osier dogwood is sometimes considered to be a subspecies, but sometimes as a species in its own right. It is a little lower and less stiffly growing than Tatarian dogwood (C. alba subsp. alba) and spreads faster to form typical dogwood thickets.

Cornus was what the Romans called the red-berried Cornelian cherry (C. mas), which grows into a small tree. The word cornus also means horn and may be a reference to the strong and durable timber. Nowadays the genus Cornus includes two herbaceous and about 40 woody species, mainly in Eurasia and North America.