Pagoda Dogwood

An all-around ornamental tree for birds

Fragrant blossoms of the Pagoda Dogwood

Looking for a small tree for a partly-sunny site that will attract birds and pollinators? Consider planting a Pagoda Dogwood especially if you live in the northern gardening zones of 3, 4 and 5.

Red-eyed Vireo with a Pagoda Dogwood berry in its beak

The Pagoda dogwood provides interest in every season. In spring its fragrant blossoms are profuse, leading to a good crop of berries in August that are immediately gobbled up by the birds, especially Red-eyed Vireos and Eastern Kingbirds. This tree can achieve a nice fall color and the horizontal layering of its branches, giving it an oriental look, are showcased in the winter.

Autumn color from a Pagoda that naturalized in our woods. Note the black tube to protect the tree from deer “rubs”. Deer seem to like these trees for rubbing antlers.

Pagoda Dogwoods need very little care, mostly pruning out dead branches that succumb to drought or cankers. They are easy to prune and fun if one likes to shape for effect. Pagodas will easily self-seed at the edge of woods and make a good replacement where buckthorn has been removed. I would say the only negative is that these dogwoods can be short-lived.

Red-eyed Vireo