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Pagoda dogwood (alternate-leaf dogwood) identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Pagoda dogwood, Cornus alternifolia, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges. Oval leaves 2 1/2 to 5 inches long with veins curving toward the tip. Bark: Smooth, dark green and streaky, later light brown with shallow cracks. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify pagoda dogwood
| Leaf type | Alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Oval leaves 2 1/2 to 5 inches long with veins curving toward the tip. They crowd near the branch ends, so they can look opposite, but unlike most dogwoods they alternate. |
| Bark | Smooth, dark green and streaky, later light brown with shallow cracks. |
| Fruit | Bluish-black berries about 3/8 inch on reddish stalks, ripe in late summer. |
| Twigs | Slender red to dark purple twigs with white pith. |
| Size and shape | Large shrub or small tree up to about 30 feet with flat, layered, horizontal branches. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is pagoda dogwood native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists pagoda dogwood as native to Pennsylvania (it lists the species as Swida alternifolia).
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like pagoda dogwood
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Flowering dogwood Cornus florida | Opposite, simple leaves with smooth edges. Oval leaves 3 to 5 inches long with smooth or slightly wavy edges and veins that curve toward the tip. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Questions
How do you identify pagoda dogwood?
Look for alternate, simple leaves with smooth edges. Oval leaves 2 1/2 to 5 inches long with veins curving toward the tip. Bark: Smooth, dark green and streaky, later light brown with shallow cracks.
Is pagoda dogwood native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists pagoda dogwood as native to Pennsylvania (it lists the species as Swida alternifolia).
How big does pagoda dogwood get?
Large shrub or small tree up to about 30 feet with flat, layered, horizontal branches.
How can you tell pagoda dogwood in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Slender red to dark purple twigs with white pith. Bark: Smooth, dark green and streaky, later light brown with shallow cracks.
What tree looks like pagoda dogwood?
Flowering dogwood. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Cornus alternifolia fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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