# Flowering Dogwood (*Cornus florida*)

The Flowering Dogwood is a lovely tree that displays beautiful white or pink flowers in spring. It’s great for attracting butterflies!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 46
- **Habitat:** Woodlands and gardens
- **Also known as:** Box Dogwood, Flowering Cornel

![Flowering Dogwood](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426788/objects/4855.jpg)

## Appearance

The Flowering Dogwood has distinctive 'flowers' with four large white or pink petal-like bracts surrounding tiny yellow true flowers. Its deep green leaves turn vibrant reddish-purple in fall, and its bark often looks like alligator skin.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Cornales
- **Family:** Cornaceae
- **Genus:** Cornus

## Interesting facts

- Its wood is so incredibly hard, it was once used to make shuttles for weaving!
- Native Americans used dogwood bark to make a vibrant scarlet dye for fabrics.
- Real dogwood flowers are tiny, tucked in the center of its showy 'petals'!
- The cross-like pattern of its branches in winter inspired ancient legends.

## Special abilities

- **Bract Beacon:** Flowering Dogwood has large, colorful bracts that act like a giant beacon to attract pollinators to its tiny, real flowers.
- **Seasonal Wardrobe:** Flowering Dogwood can change its leaf color from green to brilliant red and purple, signaling autumn and preparing for winter.
- **Birdy Buffet:** Flowering Dogwood has bright red, nutrient-rich berries that provide essential food for many birds in late summer.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 6-10 m
- **Spread:** 4-8 m
- **Edible:** No
- **Size:** 15-30 cm
- **Lifespan:** 60-80 years
- **Fruit Type:** Drupe
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Deciduous

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Consumes its red berries for energy.
- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and twigs.
- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits tiny central flowers for nectar.
- **Parasitizes:** Dogwood Anthracnose (*Discula destructiva*) — A fungus that can cause severe disease.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Flowering Dogwood?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Flowering Dogwood?

6-10 m

### How wide does Flowering Dogwood spread?

4-8 m

### Is Flowering Dogwood edible?

No

### How big is Flowering Dogwood?

15-30 cm

### How long does Flowering Dogwood live?

60-80 years

### Where is Flowering Dogwood usually found?

Woodlands and gardens

### What kind of fruit does Flowering Dogwood produce?

Drupe

## Where to spot

- [Colonial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colonial-park) — New Jersey, US · Park
- [Elk Neck State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park
- [Forest Hill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forest-hill-park) — Ohio, US · Park
- [Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-st-jean-baptiste-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve
- [Hidden Lake Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hidden-lake-gardens) — Michigan, US · Botanical Garden
- [Russian Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/russian-village-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District

[View all places to see Flowering Dogwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/flowering-dogwood)

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Flowering Dogwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flowering-dogwood)