Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Grass
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Canada
North America, Canada, Mexico
Types
Chinese kousa dogwood, Blue Shadow kousa, Weaver's Weeping dogwood
Panicum abscissum, Panicum acostia, Panicum amarum
Number of Varieties
438
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Near ponds, Wet Woods
Prairies
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-84-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Spreading
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
550.00 cm150.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
490.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Burgundy
Red, Green, Orange, Blue Green, Gray Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Tan, Sandy Brown
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Cold climate, Soil Compaction
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Divison, Root Division
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, occasional watering once established
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Moist, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune lower leaves, Prune once the plant is tall enough
Prune in spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Fertilize in early spring, Mulch
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Crown rot, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Whiteflies
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Humidity, Light Frost
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Squirrels
Birds, Wildlife
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Headache, Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Makes teeth white, Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Provides ground cover, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Antibiotic, Appetite enhancer, Cough, Diuretic, Emollient, Nutrients, Weight loss
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Leaves
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Decoration Purposes, Grown for shade, Used as Ornamental plant
Cattle Fodder, Used as Biofuel
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
CORNUS alternifolia
PANICUM virgatum
Common Name
Alternate-leaved Dogwood, Pagoda Dogwood
Switchgrass
In Hindi
Cornus
Switchgrass
In German
Wechselblättriger Hartriegel
Switchgrass
In French
Cornus
switchgrass
In Spanish
Cornus alternifolia
switchgrass
In Greek
Cornus
switchgrass
In Portuguese
Cornus
switchgrass
In Polish
Dereń
switchgrass
In Latin
Cornus
switchgrass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Cornales
Cyperales
Family
Cornaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Cornus
Panicum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
Paniceae
Subfamily
-
Panicoideae
Number of Species
17450
1
27800
👆🏻