Cornus florida he Flowering Dogwood is a small understory for golf-club heads, mallets, tool handles, and butch- In the Wild Tforest tree attaining heights of 5–15 m. Bark er’s blocks. Leaf, bark, and root contain tannins, the of older trees forms a checkered pattern. Twigs are astringent properties of which once served medicinal ornus florida is a smooth and range from green to purplish-red. Leaves purposes, including use as a substitute for quinine in Cprominent sub- are opposite, mostly ovate to wide-elliptic, and 6–13 the treatment of malaria. VNPS makes no recom- canopy element in a cm long; bases may be rounded or tapered, if the mendation concerning medicinal use of Flowering variety of eastern forests. latter, often unequally so; apices are acute to acum- Dogwood. Small twigs can be frayed at the end and It can be found in association inate; vein pattern is pinnate with 4–6 secondary used as a tooth stick, or natural toothbrush. with species of oak, Black Gum, veins on each side of the midvein; secondary veins Sweetgum, Tulip-tree, and Red Ma- approaching the leaf margin curve toward the apex; Name and Relationships ple, as well as diverse species of pines upper and lower leaf surfaces range from glabrous to and Canada Hemlock. Associated understory spe- finely pubescent. Inflorescence is a tight, sessile, clus- lowering Dogwood from Virginia had been cul- cies include Redbud and Shadbush or Serviceberry ter of 10–20 flowers borne on stem tip; inflorescence Ftivated in Europe since the early 1700s, so it was (Amelanchier spp.). Flowers are visited by a variety buds form late in the season and overwinter as dis- well known to Carolus Linnaeus when he established of bees, beetles, and flies. Fruits are consumed by tinct turnip-shaped structures covered by two pairs its scientific binomial, Cornus florida, in his seminal many species of birds and small mammals. of bud scales. Shortly before flowering, winter bud Species Plantarum, published in 1753. The genus scales undergo intercalary growth, enlarging to form name is derived from cornu, Latin for horn, in refer- In the Garden four white (sometimes pink) bracts that subtend the ence to the hardness of the wood; florida refers to the lowering Dogwood is a popular ornamental tree; flower clusters; bract veins converge at a small apical prominent flower clusters. The common name Dog- its moderate size makes it adaptable for yards, necrotic spot representing the overwintered portion wood is a modern derivative of dagwood, a name F parks, and roadsides, where the plants provide attrac- of the bract. Flowers appear before the leaves in ear- applied to European species of the genus referencing tive spring flowers and brilliant fall color. The trees ly spring and are perfect (bisexual). There are four its hard wood used in making daggers, arrows, and thrive in rich mesic soils but also tolerate drier, less scalelike sepals and four greenish-yellow, short, strap- skewers. The plant is also known as American Dog- fertile sites; their shallow root systems, however, make like petals; four stamens alternate with the petals; wood, but numerous other species of Cornus are, of them susceptible to leaf scorch during long droughts. ovary is inferior, capped with a nectar-bear- course, found in North America. The genus Cornus, Flowering Dogwood can be propagated by seed. ing disk and a short style with a capitate interpreted broadly, consists of about 60 species, As soon as fruits are mature, pulp should be re- stigma. Fruits are short-cylindrical red found mainly in the north-temperate zone. moved before sowing in a protected outdoor drupes, 8–18 mm long, bearing rem- spot; seeds handled this way will germinate nants of sepals apically; rarely, yellow the following spring. Artificial cold stratifica- fruits can be found. tion for three to four months will also stimu- late germination. Tip cuttings taken any time Human Uses between flowering and the onset of summer heat root readily. Flowering Dogwood also ithout doubt, the most wide- responds well to layering and grafting. Wspread current use of Flowering Numerous cultivars exist, most featuring Dogwood is in ornamental horticul- variations in color, shape, or number of ture. In the past, Cornus floridawas floral bracts, color of fruit, or degree of used to produce ink and scarlet dye. resistance to dogwood blight. The hard, dense wood has been used Conservation Status lowering Dogwood is common throughout much Fof its range. But in states at the northern fringe Flowering of its range it is recognized as a species of conser- vation concern. Imported Dogwood Blight (Discula destructiva) in extreme cases can be lethal; the long- Dogwood term negative impact of this invasive disease-causing fungus on Flowering Dogwood in the wild and in cul- Cornus florida tivation remains to be seen. Gardeners should not collect Flowering Dog- wood in the wild and should be certain that all native plants purchased for home gardens have Where to See It been nursery-propagated, not wild-collected. ornus florida can be found throughout Virgin- For a list of retail sources of nursery-propagat- Cia. It is widespread in eastern North America, ed plants and responsibly collected seeds, visit from southern New England to southern Michigan, www.vnps.org or send an SASE to the Virginia 2018 eastern Oklahoma and Texas, and the northern half Native Plant Society, Blandy Experimental Farm, of Florida. 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2, Boyce, VA 22620; e-mail [email protected]; or call 540-837-1600. To Virginia Wildflower see and learn more about interesting species of Cornus florida plants native to Virginia, visit www.vnps.org and of the Year contact your chapter of VNPS (details on the website) for times and dates of programs and wildflower walks in your area. Text and photos by W. John Hayden, VNPS Botany Chair Color illustrations by Betty Gatewood From the Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora, vaplantatlas.org Pen-and-ink illustrations by Nicky Staunton Layout by Nancy Sorrells.