Carolina Silverbell Leaves vs. Dogwood

Leaf Shape

• Both Carolina silverbell and dogwood leaves are oval in shape, ending in a point. This shape is often referred to as elliptic, oblong or ovate. Dogwood leaf edges are smooth rather than notched, while silverbell leaves have a slightly serrated edge. Dogwood leaves grow in pairs opposite each other on the twig, while silverbell leaves are arranged in an alternate pattern, with just one leaf attached to one side of the twig at each location.

Size

• Silverbell leaves range from 2 to 5 inches long and 1 to 2 1/2 inches wide. Flowering dogwood leaves grow from 3 to 6 inches long, and 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa) leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches across.

Color

• Dark green Carolina silverbell leaves turn to a yellow-green shade in autumn. Most dogwood leaves in summer are a deep green, but some varieties, such as the red osier (Cornus sericea), are variegated with white. Nearly all dogwood leaves put on a spectacular show of color in the fall when the leaves turn shades of purple and deep red. Some kousa dogwood leaves also turn yellow.

Pests

• While the Carolina silverbell is considered pest resistant, some varieties of dogwood can be plagued with problems that cause harm to the leaves. Insects that like to feast on flowering dogwood leaves include borers, scale and leaf miner. Powdery mildew and leaf-spotting fungi also attack the dogwood's leaves.