Compact deciduous shrub to about 3 m tall. New branches purplish. Leaves ovateelliptic, to 12 cm long with silky reddish hair below, vein pairs 4-7, becoming red in autumn. Flowers small, cream, in clusters 5-6 cm wide; summer. Fruits 6-8 mm wide, pale blue. The pith of young branches is dark brown.

E North America.

C. rugosa Lam., Round-leaved Dogwood, from N America is similar but has grey hair on the lower leaf surface.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Cornaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.