Habitat

• native to eastern North America
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous tree
• 35' to 40' tall
• pyramidal in youth becoming open with age
• medium coarse texture
• fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• simple, deciduous leaves
• 2" to 6" long
• ovate leaf shape
• dark, glossy green leaf color
• pubescent, lighter underside

Autumn Foliage

• yellow to red fall color
• variable

Flowers

• dioecious
• blooms early spring
• not ornamentally important

Fruit

• only on female trees
• red orange multiple fruit
• 1" to 2" long
• matures in September
• edible
• attracts wildlife

Bark

• one of the most distinctive features of the species
• mature bark develops a deep, blocky pattern
• dark gray or brown; almost black at times
• looks much like alligator hide
• similar in appearance to old Cornus florida bark, but more dramatic

Culture

• prefers moist, well-drained soil
• often found growing in sandy, infertile soils
• pH adaptable
• full sun

Landscape Uses

• for attractive foliage
• for fall color
• park tree
• for fruit
• to attract wildlife

Liabilities

• leaf spot
• difficult to transplant
• suckers

ID Features

• no terminal buds
• lateral buds are small and black

Propagation

• by seed
• by grafting
• by root cutting

Cultivars/Varieties

'Meader' - The most commonly available cultivar, popular for its extreme hardiness and ability to fruit without a pollinator. Reaches 30'-40' tall and also serves as a good ornamental plant with handsome fall foliage. Developed at the University of New Hampshire.

Other common fruiting varieties include 'John Rick', 'Early Golden', 'Garrettson' and 'Killen'.