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Crataegus crus-galli

Cockspur Hawthorn is a small, low-branched tree, also grown as a tall shrub. Flat clusters of white flowers with a somewhat unpleasant odor bloom in late spring, followed by bright red fruits in late summer. The fruits persist into winter, providing a food source for birds. The shiny green leaves turn bronze to red in the fall. This plant has 2-inch-long thorns, so avoid planting in areas with small children. Crus-galli in Latin means “leg of a cock,” referring to the resemblance of the formidable thorns to a cock

Cotinus coggygria

Common Smoketree is a deciduous shrub with bluish-green leaves. It gets its name from flower parts covering the shrub with attractive, smoke-like, pink to purplish-pink puffs throughout the summer. This shrub has colorful fall foliage, ranging from yellow to red to purple. Common Smoketree requires well-drained soil and is drought-resistant. Plant as a specimen, or in groups in shrub borders or hedges.

Corylus cornuta

Beaked Hazelnut is a small, deciduous shrub. Yellowish male catkins and inconspicuous female flowers appear in April. The female flowers are followed by ornamental nuts enclosed in a bristly husk with a beak-like appearance. The edible nuts were a food source for Native Americans; the nuts could be stored for a long period of time, eaten raw, or ground into a flour and baked. The nuts are a food source for birds and wildlife, including squirrels, deer, grouse, and pheasant. Use Beaked Hazelnut in mass plantings, shrub borders, or woodland gardens.

Corylus americana

American Hazelnut, a deciduous shrub, is monoecious (separate male and female flowers appear on the same plant); the light-brown male catkins and inconspicuous female flowers emerge March-April. The female flowers lead to uniquely shaped nuts, which mature in late summer. The nuts are edible, sweet, have high nutritional value, and may be eaten raw or ground into flour. The nuts were traditionally used by Native Americans to flavor soup. Many mammal and bird species feed on the nuts, including fox, deer, turkey, woodpeckers, and squirrels. The dense, low-growth characteristics of this species provide cover and nesting sites for wildlife. Its fall foliage colors range from yellow to red. Use American Hazelnut in naturalized areas or woodland gardens, where nut debris will not cause “tree litter.” It can also can be used as a screen planting, or in the back of a shrub border.

Cornus sericea

Redosier Dogwood is a deciduous shrub, which adds color to the winter landscape with bright red, multi-branching stems. Its small, white flowers bloom May-June. The flowers are followed by clusters of white, berry-like fruits, which are attractive to birds. Use it in shrub borders, as property screens, or along pond or steam banks to prevent soil erosion.

Cornus racemosa

Gray Dogwood is a flowering deciduous shrub. Clusters of white flowers appear in late May to early June. Flowers are followed by small, white, berry-like fruits, which attract many species of birds. The fruits are on top of branched, red twigs, which remain showy after the fruits have been consumed by the birds. Gray Dogwood is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”), and it provides habitat cover and shelter for wildlife. It will tolerate poor and somewhat dry soils. Use in masses in shrub borders, screen plantings, or wildlife gardens. It is also a good choice for rain gardens or the edges of ponds or streams. Visit Native Plant Society of NJ “Plant Profiles & Photos” for additional information and photos.

Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood is a lovely, spring-blooming deciduous tree. Its showy, white flowers appear April-May, offering a valuable nectar source for native bees. The flowers are followed by oval-shaped fruits, which mature to a bright red color in late summer; the fruits are a food source for birds.

Cornus amomum

Silky Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub, native to moist lowlands. Clusters of tiny, white flowers bloom May-June, followed by white, berry-like fruits, which turn blue as they ripen in August. The fruits are a food source for birds. The twigs and leaves are identifiable by silky strands on their undersides, hence its common name. This shrub is easy to transplant. Use in woodland gardens or in naturally moist areas of the yard, such as rain gardens or along ponds or streams. Visit Native Plant Society of NJ “Profiles & Photos” for additional information and photos.

Cornus alternifolia

Alternateleaf Dogwood is a small, deciduous tree, sometimes planted as a shrub. Its horizontal branches give it a layered appearance. Clusters of fragrant, white flowers bloom May-June, followed by blue-black fruits, which ripen in late summer. The fruits provide food for birds and other wildlife. The leaves turn red-purple in the fall. Alternateleaf Dogwood is a host plant for butterfly and moth larvae (caterpillars), including Spring Azure (Celastrina “ladon”). Water during periods of drought and mulch to keep the roots moist. Use as a specimen tree for small yards, or plant in masses in shrub borders or woodland gardens.

Coreopsis tinctoria

Golden Tickseed is a brightly colored, long-blooming annual. The daisy-like flowers, which are yellow-orange with dark-red centers, bloom June-September. The flowers are good fresh-cut. The nectar is attractive to butterflies, native bees, and other beneficial pollinators, and the seeds attract birds. This plant aggressively self-seeds, but that can be minimized by removing spent flowers, which also encourages more blooms. The common name originated from the resemblance of the seeds to ticks. Plant Golden Tickseed in masses in borders, wildflower gardens, or naturalized areas.