It reproduces by seed and root sprouts, which makes it effective at occupying areas of land and forming dense groves.

The plant is thus often grown in organic gardening and permaculture to prevent harm to orchard crops, while benefiting from the fact that even frugivorous birds will hunt pest insects during the breeding season, as their young require much protein to grow.

The prehistoric archer known as Ötzi the Iceman, discovered in 1991 on the border between Italy and Austria, was carrying arrow shafts made from dogwood.

[5] The common name, dogwood, comes from C. sanguinea, the wood of which Northern Europeans frequently used to make treenails ("dags"), dowels, and pegs prior to the industrial revolution.

The wood of C. sanguinea is unusually hard, dense, and tough and has an oily finish which aids in driving pegs into holes.