{"product_id":"muskingum-dogwood","title":"Muskingum Dogwood","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Low, Spreading Native Dogwood for Naturalizing and Erosion Control\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuskingum Dogwood (Cornus racemosa 'Muszam') is a low, wide-spreading selection of Minnesota-native gray dogwood — a tough, adaptable shrub that knits the soil together on slopes and naturalizes effortlessly. Clusters of white spring flowers give way to white berries on showy red stalks that birds love, and the foliage turns reddish-purple in fall. Whether you're stabilizing a slope in Burnsville, naturalizing a wet-to-dry edge in Woodbury, or planting for wildlife in Maple Grove — Muskingum is a rugged native groundcover shrub for zone 4b–5a yards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMuskingum Dogwood Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCornus racemosa 'Muszam'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGray Dogwood, Muskingum Dogwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 feet (low, spreading)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate to fast — low, wide-spreading, suckering; forms a colony\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade. Adaptable to a wide range of light.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to high — exceptionally adaptable, tolerating both dry and wet soils.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — fully hardy and reliable here\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery adaptable — tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, dry, and wet soils alike.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — green summer leaves turning reddish-purple in fall.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F. A tough Minnesota native.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately deer-resistant.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinnesota native — supports native pollinators and birds and the Lawns to Legumes program.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eClusters of white flowers in late spring, followed by white berries on red stalks that birds favor.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMuskingum Dogwood Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSlopes and erosion control\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts low, spreading, suckering habit binds the soil, making Muskingum ideal for stabilizing a slope or bank in Burnsville or Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNaturalizing tough sites\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew shrubs are as adaptable — it handles dry or wet soil, sun or shade — so it's perfect for naturalizing a difficult edge or transition zone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNative and wildlife plantings\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhite flowers feed pollinators and the berries are a favorite of birds, anchoring a native habitat planting in the Twin Cities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Muskingum Dogwood in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws) is the second-best window, giving the shrub a full season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAvoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Muskingum Dogwood\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearly any spot works — sun or shade, dry or wet — making it ideal for problem areas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with some compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace 4–5 feet apart for a colony or slope cover; it will spread to fill in.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a water basin the first season; flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 2–3 inches with shredded bark, kept off the stems. Remove suckers to contain it, or let it spread to naturalize.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Muskingum Dogwood in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days; it tolerates both dry and wet once established\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished gray dogwood is remarkably adaptable, tolerating drought and wet alike — water only during extended dry spells.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf used, place emitters 12–18 inches from the crown. Always winterize the system — blow out the lines before freeze and shut timers off by early October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it native to Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood) is a Minnesota native, valued for wildlife and erosion control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it spread?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it suckers to form a low colony, which makes it excellent for slopes and naturalizing. Remove suckers to contain it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it have red stems like other dogwoods?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — gray dogwood has gray stems; its appeal is the white berries on red stalks, reddish-purple fall color, and tough, adaptable nature rather than winter stem color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan it handle dry and wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — it's one of the most adaptable native shrubs, thriving in everything from dry banks to wet edges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGray Dogwood — the taller, thicket-forming native gray dogwood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRedtwig Dogwood — a native dogwood with bright red winter stems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinnesota Natives — regionally native shrubs for habitat and easy care\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54308984193329,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54308984226097,"sku":null,"price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/muskingum-dogwood.jpg?v=1779567572","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/muskingum-dogwood","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}