Dogwood Gray

Gray Dogwood is a shrub native to Ontario that produces small, creamy-white flowers in late spring/early summer that turn into white berries. The green foliage turns dark reddish-purple in the fall before dropping. Gray Dogwood is valuable for wildlife; the berries are eaten by birds like Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Eastern Bluebird, and the flowers provide food for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. It's also the larval host for the Spring Azure butterfly. Since it spreads via suckers, it can also provide erosion control for sloped areas. 

Dogwoods are low-maintenance shrubs that grow well in wet areas and in average garden conditions; just keep them well-watered until they establish. Gray Dogwood can tolerate full shade, but flowering will be reduced.