Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

twig, leaf, and flowerLeaves are 3 to 6 inches long. The veins run parallel to the leaf margin. The mid-vein contains fine strands when pulled apart.

Leaves: oval to egg shaped with five or six pairs of veins

Branching: opposite

Bark: dark (red-brown), deeply checkered in an alligator hide-like pattern

Height: small bushy tree (taller in southern states: 30 to 40 ft.)

Trunk Diameter: 12 to 18 in.

Longevity: 60 to 80 yrs.

Tolerance: tolerant

Range: southern Maine to central Florida, west to eastern Texas

Fun Facts:

  • Planted as an ornamental branch, twigs, bark, fruit, and flower
  • Wood used in industrial weaving looms and wagon hubs.
  • Fruit and twigs of the tree are food for song and game birds, skunks, deer, rabbits, and squirrels.
  • Large white pink-tipped flowers in the spring.
  • Identification tip - gently tear leaf. Strings will appear between the torn halves.
  • You can always tell a Dogwood by its bark!

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This key was developed by "bt" in June 1982. It was put into HTML format by Stephen Ostermiller in July 1997. Copies of the entire guide in zip format that may be taken to camp on a laptop are available to those who write.