Gray Dogwood Berries

The white berries and red stalks of gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) are quite a site this time of year. This large shrub grows in thickets under various conditions at Habitat Home. Later this fall the leaves will turn a purplish-red. The berries are actually drupes, a seed covered by fleshy pulp. This fruit is eaten by at least 25 species of birds. It is also an important cover plant and the fine upper twigs of this dogwood provide excellent support for birds to build their nest.