CORNUS FLORIDA – Flowering Dogwood
The Flowering Dogwood tree is a deciduous ornamental tree and is native to the eastern half of the United States
[Elementary School students]
Did you know?
* What part of the tree is poisonous?
* The fruit of the tree is poisonous to humans.
http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
What part of the trees is used to make dyes?
* The root of the tree is used to make dyes for coloring clothing.
http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
What part of the dogwood tree helps to “tell time”
* Native Americans planted corn when the flowers were in bloom.
http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
Who likes to feed on Dogwood trees?
* Songbirds, game birds, skunks, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, deer and bears all like to use Dogwoods for food.
http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
What states in the U.S. use the tree as a symbol?
* It is the state tree of Virginia and state flower of North Carolina.
http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
What parts of the tree can be used for medical purposes?
* Almost all parts of dogwood trees can be used for medicinal purposes: the bark, roots, berries, twigs, leaves and flowers. Other ailments that have been treated with dogwood include insomnia, asthma, fevers, muscular problems, whooping cough and toothache.
http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
Leaf:
https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/WhiteFloweringDogwood.htm
[Middle School students]
Habitat (where it likes to live)
* Well drained soils in full sun and partial shade.
* As an understory tree (beneath taller growing shade trees)
* Location: Eastern and central North America (Zone 5 to 9)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida
Requirements (what it needs to live)
* Water: Medium to wet
* Maintenance: Medium
Identification (what it looks like)
* One of the first trees to send out flowers in the spring
* Good fall color
* Deer resistant
* Food source for animals
[High School students]
Habit (how it grows)
* Height: 15 to 30 feet
* Spread: 15 to 30 feet
* Bloom Time: April to May
* Bloom Description: White (bracts)
* Leaf: Good fall color
* Sun: Full sun to part shade
* Tolerate: Wet Soil, Air Pollution
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c280
Leaf (Bract)
https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/WhiteFloweringDogwood.htm
Fruit
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/cornus-florida/
Flower
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida
Tree
https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/WhiteFloweringDogwood.htm
Suggested Use (where to plant it in the garden and landscape): (3 – Missouri Botanic)
* Residential – People’s yards
* Wooded areas – A good ‘understory’ tree
* Parks – Seth Hand Park
References:
- Fun Facts - http://facts.net/dogwood-tree/nggallery/image/dogwood-tree-facts-1/
- Missouri Botanic Garden - http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=c280
- NC State - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/cornus-florida/
- Fast Growing Trees - https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/WhiteFloweringDogwood.htm
- Wkipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida