Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) Other common names: Eastern Flowering Dogwood

Other scientific names: Cynoxylon floridum

French names: Cornouiller fleuri

Family: Dogwood Family (Cornaceae)

Group: Dogwoods

Distinctive features: Shrub; This dogwood is distinguished by its showy large white flowers that bloom in early spring.

Similar species:
  •   Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) - has alternate leaves.

  •   Round-leaved Dogwood (Cornus rugosa) - has obviously round leaves.

  •   Silky Dogwood (Cornus obliqua) - grows in wetlands; has striped bark.

  •   Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) - has reddish or greenish bark, grows in wetlands.

  •   Dogwoods

Flowers: Spring;  White;  4 parts (petals);  Large.

Leaves: Opposite/Whorled, Simple, Entire

Habitat: Forests;  Open woods.

Grows in Sun/Shade: Shade

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 166    Trees in Canada: 181    Shrubs of Ontario: 351   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common, mostly in the more southerly parts of Ontario. But Flowering Dogwoods are being decimated by a fungal disease, particularly in the NE USA.

For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs

Photographs: 210 photographs available, of which 16 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flowers

Flowering Dogwood has showy white flowers in early spring.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flower

BUT ... those large white "petals" are actually bracts surrounding the actual flower cluster, which is made up of green flowers at the center.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flowers

Here is a closer view of the actual flowers.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flowers

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering Dogwood flowers grace the early spring woods with their beauty.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flower bud

Flowering Dogwood flower bud.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flower bud

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) flower bud

Lookign down inside a Dogwood Family flower bud.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) leaf

Flowering Dogwood leaf, upper side.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) leaves

Flowering Dogwood leaves.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) fruit

Ripening fruit.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) trunk and bark

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) leaf

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) tree

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) trunk and bark

The trunk and bark also sometimes look like this.


Range map for Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)

 

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