Species specifics: Roughleaf dogwood

Fast facts about roughleaf dogwood

A hardy, thicket-forming shrub that can become an aggressive invader of pastures and grasslands if not managed.
Native to the Great Plains and Midwest of the United States.
Averages 15 feet in height and width at maturity and can exceed 25 feet tall and wide.
A notoriously challenging shrub to control once established due to its extensive underground root system.

What to look for

Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) is a hardy, thicket-forming shrub that can become an aggressive invader of pastures and grasslands if not managed.

The multi-stemmed shrub or tree commonly grows between 3 and 15 feet tall and wide, although it can exceed 25 feet in both height and width. Branches are stemmed and irregular and form dense thickets as they mature and colonize, eventually crowding out desired grasses and favorable forbs. Young twigs are green to reddish-brown and hairy, developing into gray-brown, rough and furrowed bark-covered branches. Unlike other ornamental dogwoods, roughleaf dogwood branches do not turn red during dormant winter months.

Leaves are simple, smooth and oval to elliptic, ranging from 2 to 5 inches long, and arranged in opposing pairs. The upper surface of the leaves is rough and sandpaper-like — one of the most recognizable identifiers of this invasive species. Small white flowers emerge in May as flat-topped clusters that resemble plates hovering above the foliage at the canopy of the shrub. Roughleaf dogwood primarily spreads by underground stems and root shoots but also spreads via seeds dispersed by birds that readily eat its small white berries, which emerge in late summer.

Where it is found

Native to the Great Plains and Midwestern United States, this shrub is highly adaptable to a wide range of light and soil conditions, from full shade to full sun and from dry, rocky soils to moist, heavy soils. Look for new populations as expanding woody patches along fencelines, draws or pasture edges, or along the edge of tree groups in low-lying areas.

States where this species is found include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

How to treat it

Because of its extensive underground root system, intermittent mechanical control of established dogwood populations, including mowing or burning, is often ineffective without an integrated management approach.

For broadcast applications, apply Surmount® herbicide at 48 to 64 ounces per acre for plants under 6 feet tall with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% volume/volume. Increase the Surmount herbicide rate to 64 to 96 fluid ounces per acre with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% volume/volume for plants exceeding 6 feet tall.

For individual plant foliar treatment, apply Surmount at 1% to 2% volume/volume with a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% volume/volume. Spray to uniformly wet all the leaves but not to the point of runoff.

Apply herbicide treatments in late spring through summer when leaves have fully expanded and matured. Avoid spraying when immature leaf growth is present or when leaf cover is compromised by drought or insect damage.

Surmount® is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Surmount is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. Always read and follow label directions.