The flower of the dogwood tree is the state flower of North Carolina
A landscape tree for all four seasons, the flower of the dogwood (Cornus florida) was designated as the official state flower of North Carolina by the General Assembly of 1941. The flowering dogwood tree is one of the most ubiquitous trees in North Carolina and can be found growing throughout the state from the mountains to the coastline. The flowers are most often snow white, but can also be shades of pink or red. Does this Spark an idea?
Description
The petals of the dogwood flower surround a cluster of tiny yellow flowers.
The flower of the dogwood is made up of four petal-like bracts surrounding a cluster of tiny yellow flowers. Each bract is about 1 to 2 inches long and is obovate, or egg-shaped, with the narrower end at the base. Generally, the white petal has a cleft at the tip of each bract. Flowers appear in early spring and last into the summer. Bright red football-shaped fruits follow the flowers and can last into winter.
The Tree
The ornamental dogwood tree is also known as the American Dogwood and the Flowering Dogwood. The deciduous tree can grow from 15 to 40 feet in height and its width is usually greater than its height. A member of the Cornaceae family, the dogwood tree has a thick trunk, a rounded crown and is native to North America. All parts of the tree, including the flowers are beneficial for their wildlife value.
Uses
According to the Floridata website, the flowering dogwood is one of the most popular ornamental trees. It is often used in landscaping as a framing or background tree. The flowers are among the earliest of the spring blooms and are usually in full bloom for 2 to 3 weeks.
Features
The flowering dogwood has a dense crown and provides a great deal of shade. Additionally, the tree is small in stature and can be used in small yards.The flowering dogwood is usually an understory tree in a forest of hardwood trees or on the edge of pine forests. It grows best in partial shade in the south, but can tolerate full sun in the north.
Considerations
A fungus disease has been affecting the flowering dogwood according to the Floridata website. First discovered in the 1970s, the disease has spread throughout much of the dogwood's range by the 1990s. Although the disease can kill a flowering dogwood in 2 to 3 years, dogwoods growing out in the open with sufficient air circulation and sunlight, are usually not affected.
Tags: flowering dogwood, dogwood tree, North Carolina, flower dogwood, cluster tiny
