Alternate-leaved dogwood

This shrub or small tree, which can grow from 3 to 7 metres tall, is native to North America. Its thin, reddish-brown bark is smooth when young and separates into shallow ridges with age.

This tree has a distinctive tiered form, with glossy branches that grow horizontally. Their colour ranges from reddish green to reddish purple.

Its alternate leaves measure 4 to 13 cm in length and have slightly wavy edges. They are oval and acuminate, often clustered near the tips of the branches. The lateral veins curve gently toward the margins. The upper surface of the leaf is dark green, while the underside is pale and matte.

The small flowers are white or cream-coloured, arranged in many flat-topped clusters. The fruit is a dark blue drupe, borne on a short red stalk.