Pagoda Dogwood Is A Favorite~

Pagoda Dogwood or Cornus alternifolia is a shrubby tree I like to use because it is multi-seasonal.
It typically grows 15-25’ tall with a distinctive tiered/layered horizontal branching which is upward-turned at the tips and its bluish black seeds are loved by robins.It has a lovely dark burgundy fall color.
 
It does not like to dry out in the summer so be attentive to drying conditions. And as it ages, it sometimes gets twig blight which can be controlled by pruning it out, allowing younger branches to take over. You can also spray it with a general purpose fungicide as soon as buds open in the spring. Chlorothalonil is readily available for use in home gardens and is effective against twig blight.
Reapply the fungicide every two weeks until the new growth matures. This typically works out to three treatments. More treatments can be applied if rainy weather persists throughout the summer and the tree’s leaves do not have time to dry before nightfall.