Pacific Dogwood : Cornus nuttallii

Plant type: deciduous tree
Height: 20-30'

Light: part to full shade
Soil: moist to dry

Growth rate: moderate
PPL: YES

Devastatingly beautiful. A (soil) community-minded, part-shade loving tree. Grows along the forest edge, exploding with dramatic white blooms in the spring.

A mid-sized tree at full height.

Attracts flickers, pileated woodpeckers, grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, and woodpeckers. Caterpillar host plant for dozens of species of native butterflies and moths (the fireworm moth, the fingered dagger moth, and the dimorphic bomolocha moth).

Susceptible to anthracnose fungus and not very tolerant of extreme heat. Cultivars of this species are typically sold in conventional nurseries, which might be a better choice if you need a hearty street tree.