Seed pod belongs to a dogwood, Cornus kousa.

If Cornus, than in my opinion Cornus nuttallii is more likely https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/168063/

Although, Cornus Kousa var. ‘chinensis’ looks similar, but not quite.

As a species, Cornus nuttallii is rarely seen in cultivated gardens. And almost never outside its native range. Rather picky about establishment. Possibility it could be a nuttallii x kousa hybrid.

Bark and habit are like those of Kousa, that tree is definitely involved.

Fruit don't look quite right when compared to my Cornus kousa which doesn't have the look of individual berries in a cluster, but looks more like a miniature golf ball . So perhaps a hybrid.

If allowed to age in place and fully ripen, C. kousa pods will develop into more of a spiky cluster of individual seeds very similar to the photo.

Hmm . . . mine never have. Perhaps we get too cold too quickly in the fall.

Well, another picture of Cornus nuttallii fruit http://www.californiagardens.com/Plant_Pages/cornus_nuttallii.htm.

"Cornus nuttallii is rarely seen in cultivated gardens. And almost never outside its native range." - I am unable to see any info about where the garden is located, so how could we know that it is not in the native range of that species?

But it IS a cultivated garden :-) Like a number of PNW native plants, Cornus nuttallii does not translate well or easily into a garden setting. And it just plain won't grow outside of its rather limited native range. Period.

Still, it could translate into a garden setting, even if not easily, if the garden was in its native range?

Theoretically, yes. But I have never seen one planted intentionally here although a few wildings can be found in some woodsier locations.

That said, I am not insisting it is Cornus nuttallii, even if the fruit looks very much alike. As I already said before it could be Cornus Kousa var. ‘chinensis’.

Smooth exfoliating bark on the mature trunk is consistent with C. kousa and completely unlike C. nuttallii.

Yes, the branching habit is not right for that species either.

It is close to the house, but you may want to see it in flower before taking action. Always best to try and live with a garden for a year before drastic changes are made unless there is an urgent matter. This is not urgent.

tj

Difficult to give an advice to someone else. However, if it was my place I would keep it. The tree, regardless if it is Cornus kousa or a hybrid, is beautiful. I can see trees, often much bigger than this one growing as close to houses as yours is without causing any problems.

BTY, it would be quite educational if you could post pics of the flowers and possibly foliage when it develops? Supposing, of course, you didn't get rid of the tree before.

And when posting do it in this thread, please. Could you also tell us where is the garden located?

A kousa of that size has been around for a while......that is not a young tree. If it has not created a problem with its location close to the house before now, it is unlikely to do so going forward.

Trees, especially smallish trees like dogwoods or Japanese maples, planted close to structures are not automatically to be considered "problems"!!

Agree that it is about as large as it's going to get and that while it may require some minor pruning to avoid any continuous contact with siding or the eaves, occasional contact during really windy days isn't going to damage anything.

The Maryland location (if the identifying characteristics weren't enough) also rules out C. nuttallii...it wouldn't thrive/survive the summer climate of the mid-Atlantic region.

Yes, too bad it was no info on the location until 7 hours ago.

I believe it's one of the Rutgers university hybrids.... tree looks grafted. If so, flowers will help idetification. Do wait until it blooms before you do anything drastic.

Be aware that a Kousa will bloom in late spring, after most flowering trees, so give it time.

tj

Thanks. Keep us updated on the flowers.

tj

I love the color progression that the flower bracts go through as they expand. Mine start chartreuse, but yours have a bit of pink at this stage. Lovely!

Looks like Cornus × rutgersensis ‘Stellar Pink.’, as Marcus has said one of the Rutgers-bred Dogwood Hybrids https://sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu/2015/08/rutgers-bred-dogwood-hybrids-formally-named-after-legendary-breeder-elwin-orton-and-rutgers-university/ - scroll to the middle of the page.

Too bad you live so far from me, Elisa. I would more than gladly have it if you were going to get rid of it.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Cornus+x+rutgersensis+'Stellar+Pink'&FORM=HDRSC2

Dogwoods of that size are not exactly movable :-)