Pennsylvania · Shrub

Gray dogwood for birds in Pennsylvania

Thicket cover and white fall fruit. Native to Pennsylvania, where it feeds or shelters 3 backyard bird species.

Scientific name: Cornus racemosa
Native status: Native in Pennsylvania
Hardiness zones: USDA 5a–7b
What birds get from it: Food and cover
Pennsylvania birds supported: 3
Nesting birds among them: 3

Growing conditions in Pennsylvania

Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.

Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.

Pennsylvania birds that use Gray dogwood

Year-round residents (2)

Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird

Summer breeders (1)

House Wren

Nesting season it supports in Pennsylvania

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Gray dogwood:

Northern Cardinal — April–August
Eastern Bluebird — April–August
House Wren — May–August

Native plants to pair with Gray dogwood in Pennsylvania

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and a major caterpillar host.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Fall seed.

Flowering dogwood

Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

Frequently asked

Is Gray dogwood native to Pennsylvania?

Yes. Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa) is recorded as native in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania spans USDA 5a–7b.

What birds does Gray dogwood attract in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, Gray dogwood supports 3 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, House Wren.

Does Gray dogwood help nesting birds in Pennsylvania?

3 of those birds nest in Pennsylvania: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Eastern Bluebird (April–August), House Wren (May–August).

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.