oodles of information

Flowering Dogwood Trees

White Flowering Dogwood
‘Cornus florida’

Pink Flowering Dogwood Tree-
Cornus florida var. ‘Rubra’

© 2008 photo courtesy L Watts

cherokee chief dogwood

Red Dogwood-
Cornus florida var. ‘Cherokee Chief’

More than 20 cultivars of flowering dogwood are being sold in the United States. If you are like me you look forward to seeing the familiar blooms of the white dogwood in late spring and sometimes again in September. Many find the red or pink blooms breathtaking but still prefer the simple beauty of an old fashioned White Dogwood. In the woods where we live, some of the smaller specimens’ bloom so proficiently, it looks as though the tree is covered with snow. Not only are the red berries beautiful and eye-catching, they provide much needed food for wild birds. The seeds, fruit, flowers, twigs, bark, and leaves are consumed by wildlife. Just about every part of the Dogwood is utilized as food by various animals.

The Dogwood family tree comprises of a group of 30-50 species of deciduous woody plants in the family- Cornaceae and then divided into one to nine generas. There are approximately 20 to 30 species of Dogwood shrubs. According to folklore you must wait until just after the dogwood trees have bloomed before you plant out any cold sensitive plants or vegetables. In some areas of the US the term ‘Dogwood Winter’ (cousin to Indian Summer) is used to describe the last major cold snap of Winter.

Throughout history, many small items that required a very hard and strong wood were often made with the wood from the Dogwood. For example tool handles, spools, small pulleys, mallet heads and weaving looms. Actually, it is believed the name dogwood is a variation of the term ‘dagwood’ because the slender stems were used for making dags, daggers and skewers. Native Americans used the dogwood for making arrows, some homesteaders still refer to the Dogwood tree as an Arrow wood tree. The Dogwood is one of the most popular ornamental speciesbecause of its beauty. It has retained its’ popularity because it grows well without much maintenance. It is important to keep in mind the quality and composition of soil will determine the health of your flowering dogwood tree.

Plant a Tree – invest in your future.

© 2008 oOdles of infOrmation