Privacy policy. Fruit Phenophases: Perhaps the most unique thing about a flowering dogwood tree is its flowers, which...aren’t actually flowers! The showy Red Dogwood tree is a lovely accent or focal tree. Noted for its 4 seasons of interest, Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood) is a large shrub or small deciduous tree adorned with a rounded to flat-topped canopy and elegant horizontal or tiered branches. A Complete Guide to Digging & … The leaves are opposite and elliptical, approximately 2.5 to 5 inches long and 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide, with slightly wavy edges. How to care for flowering dogwood Below are some of the need-to-know tips for caring for your flowering dogwood … Some of the birds that feed on the fruit of this tree include Robins, Thrushes, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Cardinal, and the Veery. The flower of the Cornus florida is the official state flower of North Carolina and Virginia. Flowering dogwood was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes who valued it especially for its astringent and antiperiodic properties. What appears to be a single, showy flower on this tree actually is a cluster of flowers surrounded by 4, petal-like "bracts." But when you take a closer look, there are many distinct features that set this tree apart from fellow flowering plants. - Breaking flower buds (usually occurs before the leaf budding) Well, at first glance it may look quite similar to other ornamental trees. Flower Phenophases: Nevertheless, these highly visible white (sometimes pink or rose) flower-clusters are a distinctive feature of forests, fields, and hillsides in springtime Ohio. The trunk and bark also sometimes look like this. On any given branch, there are many twigs and each has several bud locations. Cultural Controls: Improve drainage. If you get up close to your tree, you can also spot its true flowers, which look like greenish-yellow clusters in the center. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies. The fruit for the flowering dogwood is poisonous to humans, so humans have interacted with the flowering dogwood in limited amounts. In spring, profuse star-like blooms, 3-4 in. Flowering Dogwood trunk, showing the bark. Unfussy in its care requirements, the dogwood readily thrives in the home landscape and grows quickly. As you can see from these pictures, the twigs of the flowering dogwood are relatively slender and have a web-like orientation. It is relatively easy to peel the bark off of the tree, pieces at a time. It is little used in modern herbalism. Unfortunately, this tree is susceptible to a number of insect and disease problems. The phenology of a particular plant is the tracking of its development through the seasons. All Rights Reserved. Dogwood flowers are typically white, but some species produce yellow, pale red or pink blossoms. Cornus florida. Although it is not the tallest tree, its height is quite noticeable - the tree can be seen from the street, despite the brick walls surrounding the cemetery. The blooming season is April-May. The leaves are alternate, acutely veined, with a smooth to wavy margin. Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) Description: This shrub or tree is about 10-30' tall with ascending to spreading branches and a somewhat irregular crown. American dogwood is a tree. That’s a valuable food, and one that is easy for beginners to identify and collect! Getting Started. The leaves are in an opposite orientation and have veins that curve out to the edge of the leaf from its midrib (the central vein of the leaf, connected to its petiole). Many of the varieties are deciduous and provide a rich fall color display followed by bright green, yellow, coral and orange revealed stems. It is a very beautiful tree. Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida - How to grow Dogwood Tree - Duration: 3:38. Flowering dogwood tree bark is dark gray. Flowering dogwood has a low-branching habit with a flattish crown. Over the years, the bark darkens in color and develops a patch or block pattern. Flowering Dogwood. Subscribe to the "The Sapling" on the Davey Blog for the latest tips to keep your outdoor space in tip-top shape throughout the year. 1' (Simpson Nurseries) - white-centered, red flowers; rusty-red fall foliage. The main attraction is the appearance of the showy white or pink flowers (actually bracts) that herald the arrival of spring. ©2020 The Davey Tree Expert Company. Characteristics: The Flowering Dogwood is a relatively small tree, reaching heights of 30 feet and trunk diameters of 8 inches. A 10-year-old tree will stand about 5 m (16 ft) tall. Consult a local pathologist for the latest in control measures. - Dropping of fruit to the ground/consumption by birds. Growing from 15 to 30 tall and wide at maturity, this dogwood is large enough to be a yard tree, but stays small enough to be used in a garden or a larger mixed or raised bed. Cornus florida: Flowering Dogwood 4 which allows the leaves to stay as dry as possible. Trees and Shrubs Dogwoods: Range map for Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State. Tree Service Experts Since 1880. As a result, when this tree does bloom it will be fairly densely packed with blossoms. The leaves of the flowering dogwood turn a bright red in the fall.